Imperial Valley press., 1930-02-24
bedtime Stories
By HOWARD E. GARRIS
Newspaper Syndicate
Copyright. 1923, by Mcclure
UNCLE WIGGILY AND THE
WOODEN SOLDIER


Very brave and bold WAS the
wooden soldier as he stood in front
Of the tin aireoplaHe in corner Of
Uncle Wiggily's hollow stump bnn--
allow The wooden soldier held his
grn very straight and his sword was
at his side, ready to be pulled our
a; a moments notice.
For he was more than Just i wood
Ell soldier, was this brave chap. He
was also a captain. You could tell
that by his sword. And YOU could
tcll that he vas soldier hv his Gun
Now you know, as we'll as ! do.
that regular captain in the army
can't be. a soldier with GUN al
the same time he is a captain with
a SWORD. It just sin't done. But
this wooden soldier was different.
Tor many years he had served in tsc
the ranks, CARRYING his gun and be
ing very brave IN battle. Then he
was made a captain. and given
sword, and he was told that he
might Law aside his gun if he liked
"No, thank you" said the wooden
soldier. "My gun has been with m
many years. should be very i'm
roltc. now. to throw it away, even
though have been made a captain.
shall keep my sword and my gun
also"
So he did, and that's why he stood
SO brave and bold in front Of the
tin aeroplane. The wooden soldier
was one of Busters toys, and the tin
aeronlane belonged to his brother
Custer Both rabbit boys had gone
10 the hollow stump school 70 recitc
their lessons TO the Lady Nous
teacher.
Uncle Wiggilv, hopping through
! the room ON his way out 70 have
on adventure. saw the wooden sold
Ter. The old rabbit gentleman also
I saw the tin acroplaHc and near it
lie saw a Jumping Jack, which toy
Baby H"nty had dropr.d rs ,he hur-
/ ricd OF. To school.
"Dcar ne! How caH.s, H.. olild-
rem are getting - maFa their TOYS
like tins" sajd Iucl Wi.giiy To
| himself. "Ihr TOYS night got Step
! ped on and broken. / must speak -
! them about it when .hey com. home
from school He picked up the tin
acropianc aad pat T. ea shelf H.
/ picked up the Jumping Jack au1
leaned him against tia arroplaHe.
And a, Uncle Wiy.i5v wa. picEiuL
up the wooden soldier d. heard that
brave chap speaking
"Yes, Jack" said ,Lr wyodrn sold
icr. Il could worry wt.I d. with Ii hjr
more red paint ou my coar. know
its worn off and don't Took -,
smart and trim as a captain should
look to say nothing of u regular
soldier. But what ran / do. Jark?
can't paint mv,clt Bur ! wisl,
that rabbit boy, Buster, would paint
me- up bit"
"Why, this is very SID, ind "a"
Thought Uncle Wiggjiv, looking cpro-
fully al tho wooden soldier wl.tch It.
held in lis paw. "His coat docs
need some red paint and lis trouseg
would look better if they werc mad
!; brighton blue. | think IN takc
the soldier TO toy shop and have
him touched up a bit"
50 Une5e Wiggily put tie wooden
soldier in lis pocket, taking care
not to cut himself on the wooden
sword and not to shoot himself with
the wooden gun.
Good bye, Jack" called the
wooden soldier to the jumping chan.
81 cncss Pm going to war again ="
"Well, hope You come back wtit
both your legs" chucklcd Jumping
Jack. who was . merry lad, aiwavs
tumbling about"
For the wooden soldier didn't
know what Uncle Wi2gilv was a.
Ing to do, not. standing rabbit
talk. However, Uncle Wiggily lad
heard what the wooden soldier .aiF.
and being a wise old bunny. lr
knew what it mcaut Now know.
as we'll rs YOU do, that II j, vers
hard 10 understand wha' woodr.
soldiers say. You may think ibe,