Imperial Valley press., 1930-02-15
Bedtime Stories
By HOWARD Z. GARRIS
Newspaper Syndicate
Copyright, 1928, by Mcclure
UNCLE wIGGILY-S SURPRISE

Standing in his hallway and look
ing out OF the bungalow door, Uncle
Wiggily watched the dark, sh2dowy
figures of Jackie and Pcctie Bow
Wow, coming on tiptocs up Ii e
front steps. Jackie carried something
in his paws, and so did Poetic.
$50 that's my valentine. is il ,"
thought til c rabbit gentleman o
himself as he watched the puppy
dogs.
"Thcy're going TO surprise me.
suppose, and it wouldn't lie any fun
! if / wasn't surprised. SO I'll wait
until they ring my bell and run
@way and then III sec what tAcy
have left"
/ was the eve OF ST. Valentines
day. Uncle Wiggily had been out
in the woods and fields and he had
lust brought safely home BABY Bun
~, Jingle and Jang!c. who had been
nearly caught by Slim jim, the
hungry weasel.
| Only by hiding i'll an old RAD
bit burrow, underground, and stop
ping up one hole with rocks and
dir, and by coming out the back
door, had Uncle Wiggily been able
to escape with his bunnics.
Then, as he reached his bunga-
low he saw Jackie and Poetic Bow
Wow, and heard them talk about
valentines.
~ had Amos forgotten il WAS
! St Valentines day" said NJ. long
I ears to himself as he watched in
the hallway. "So IT, a good thing
! Jackie and Poetic reminded m G.
! Though | mustn't let them know l
am here or their surprise Will be
,poiled."
All over Woodland, near the Or
ange lee Mountains that evening,
the animal boys and girls were leav-
ing secret valentines OF each others
doorsteps, irging the bell and run
ning away. Uncle Wiggily had SOHO
"alcntiles Gf his own he meant to
! leave, ana there was time enough
yet, after tea.
But now the rabbit gentleman WIS
waiting to be surprised by the rd-
cntinc Jackie and I'cctic Bow Wow
were bringing FOR him. Very slow
lv ard ca-cfull". Jackie went uP
The steps and put down ON the
doormat that which h. had been
carving in his paws. Poetic also
left wnat hc had and then, each
ono pushing the button of t.e clcc-
tric bell, away they scamucr"i u
! hide behind the corner uf the house
70 see what Uncle Wiggily would
/ OF course the rabbit gentleman
hid seen and heard al. But it would
never d if he didn't give the puppy
dogs the JOY of seeing how sur
;uiscd lie vas. 50, after waiting q
moment. 50 hey wouldn't know hC
had been hiding there IN the 11li
way all the time, Cnric Niggil'
cpsned the door and seeing the oh
iocts on tho mat. he oNclaimed:
"Oh, how jolly, Valentines 70
lmc, ( wonder who sent them ~ Jus
az if he didn't know Iia! lIa,
Hog sac. of the corner Of th
bungalow, Jackie aud Poetic trom
bled with eagerncsS for what Was 4
come next.
"Thcy must be lovely valentines!
said Uncle Wiggily aloud. "For the.
are quite large. can see that. The
seem to be in boxes. oh, maybe the
are boxes of candied carrots. j.
open one"
Uncle Wiggily tooF the paper Of
the box Jackie had left. Ana .
Soon as he opened the package u
clc Wiggily had a grand surpris
FOR out popped a furry little cI
with long black hair aud red eye
I'd was a Jack-in.thc box that ha
IImpcd up at the rabbit gentleman
And the puppy dog boy had lc.
tnat as a valentine.
"QA, N. g"eAae--. .l.cA Z =