Imperial Valley press., 1930-12-16
bedtime Stories
BY HOWARD E. GARRIS
Copyright, 1898, by Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate
UNCLE WIGGILY'S TREE
PRESENT

/ Uncle Wiggily was hopping
through the woods one day. The
weather was cold and there was
snow on the ground, for it was near
| " Christmas. But the rabbit gentle
man did not mind the snow, for he
had warm fur on his paws. He did
not mind the cold, for he had warm
fur on his back. And Uncle Wiggily
was happy, for he remembered the
bag of Christmas presents beneath
his bed.
And" said the rabbit gentleman
to himself as he hoped along,
who knows but what may meet
Santa CLAUS? That would be very
jolly!"
! On and ON through the Wintry
woods hoped Mr.. Longears. Some
rabbits, he thought might not like
cold weather. Rabbits who live IN
the warm Southland, where there is
never any snow and ice, would not,
of course, like the frosty woods
where Uncle Wiggily was hopping.
But I am used TO 1t and like
! it'll" cried MIR. Longears with a happy
| laugh as he skipped along under the
trees.
| Suddenly a deep, booming voice,
almost like baby thunder, spoke and
said:
"Its all very we'll for you to be
happy and jolly. But what about
me? That's what I want to know
what about me?"
who are you?" asked Uncle Wig
gily in surprise, for he saw no Bad
CHAPS about and he knew none OF
them had voice like that. who
are you, anyhow
"I am an old hollow tree, right
behind you" went on the booming
voice like small boy thunder now.
And I want to know why you are
so happy, singing and skipping as
you are Why?"
Because" said Uncle Wiggily. "it
is almost Christmas
whats Christmas?" asked the old
hollow tree. christmas! I never
heard Of it!"
well, that's too bad!" said the
rabbit gentleman, twinkling his pink
nose, which he hadn't done in
/ long time before. If you were a
holly tree, with red berries and green
leaves, instead Of hollow oak tree,
you would know what Christmas is.
For holly and Christmas always go
together"
"Where do they go?" asked the
hollow tree.
well, / don't mean, exactly, that
they go anywhere" and Uncle Wig
gily laughed again. But at Christ
mas you always see holly. And II
you had growing on you the little
green leaves and white berries oil
the mistletoe, then, also, you would
know what Christmas means. But
maybe I can explain by saying that
Christmas means happiness, JOY,
long life and jollity, and you get
presents"
What are presents?" asked the
hollow tree in sort Of groaning
voice
Presents are things given to you
at Christmas" went on Uncle Wig
gily. II have big bag Of Christmas
presents under my bed But they
are secret from my little rabbit
children, so don't whisper to them"
IT won't" promised the old hol-
low tree, his voice coming out Of the
big hole in his trunk. But no one
ever gave me a Christmas present"
the tree went on. II never had a
present"
That's why, suppose you don't
know about Christmas" said Mr.. |
Longears. I'm sorry It's too bad!
And I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll
go hopping through the woods and
look for Christmas present for
you. / would give you one from the !
bag under my bed, only none Of
those presents would do for you"
"No. / suppose not. 1t would be |,
a queer present that would fit hol- /
low tree like me-" said the booming !
voice.
"Wait until l come backi" called |
Uncle Wiggily as he hoped away
He had not hoped far before he
heard cad voice saying:
"Well, my dears, I'm sure / don't !