Imperial Valley press., 1931-03-21
Bedtime Stories
BY HOWARD E. GARRIS
Copyright, 1928, by Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate
UNCLE WIGGHY'S SPRING
SONG


"Weu this is the tlme Tor 1t,
said Uncle Wiggily to his wife one
morning as he stood in the doorway
of his hollow stump bungalow ana
looked over the fields and toward
the woods.
Time foN what?' asked the rab-
| bit lady
Time for my Spring Song" an
swered her husband. i hope you re-
member what this day is, my dear?'
he asked kindly and sympathetic
ally.
why yes" answered Mrs. Long
ears. This is Monday-wash day, II
you please-and wish you would
hop to the store and get some soap
oh my goodness cried Uncle
Wiggily. making believe he was a
motion picture actor. Il speak OF
my Spring Song and she asks me to
go to the store for soap,'
We'll, Nurse Jane can't wash the
clothes without soap said Mrs.
Longears, "and we forgot to order
it last week. I'd like 10 see you wash
clothes without soap" Mrs. Long
ears was very practical.
Il suppose it can't be done said
Uncle Wiggily humble like and with
an inferiority complex. Any more
than you can have spring without
a Spring Song But I will wait bit
about singing my Spring Song and
go get you the soap, my dear"
Yes, do, that's a darling" said
Mrs. LongearS. But what is this
about spring, anyhow? I don't see
that this day is any different from
any other except that Nurse Jane
hasn't any soap to wash the clothes
unless you get it, I don't see at all"
NO, my dear, I suppose you
don't" said Uncle Wiggily, still
humbly, kindly and with feeling.
But it is different day This is
the first day of spring, my dear.
Glorious, happy Spring, with cap
ital letter. Winter has gone-Spring
is here-listen to this"
Standing on the porch railing TO
make himself as high as the rooster
when he crows on the fence in the
morning, Uncle Wiggily recited this
little verse.
March the tUenty-first is Spring
The little birds begin to sing!"
"Oh, do they?" asked Mrs. Long
ears.
do they what?' Uncle wiggily
wanted to know.
DO the little birds begin to sing
today?" asked the rabbit lady.
Dear me! I haven't heard them. I've
been so worried about getting that
soap SO Nurse Jane could wash that
can't seem to think of birds or
Spring or flowers. suppose you'll
be singing OF Spring flowers soon,
won't you, Wiggy?' she asked with
smile.
Yes, he answered, albeit some
what sadly. Il hope So
But hop along now, like good
rabbit, and get the SOAP begged
his wife, Remember this is wash
day"
II am not likely to forget it,"
spoke Mr.. Longears somewhat sadly
However he hoped along to the
soap store, but as he hoped he could
not forget that this was March the
twenty first, and Spring, and that
the little birds should begin TO sing
But while I am waiting for the
birds to start their Spring singing. -
said Uncle Wiggily to himself, Il
may as well sing my own Spring
Song. OF course I know cannot sing
as sWeetly as bird, but I shall do
my very best. Somebody ought to
do something to welcome Spring be-
sides going to the store for soap. Oh,
dear mel
So, hopping to the top of a little
hill on his way to the soap store,
Uncle Wiggily looked all around for
a sight Of something about which to
sing in the Spring. He happened
to see a sassafras tree and this made
nim think of an old song written a
long time ago. So the rabbit gentle
men sang:
"Oh, Sassatras! Oh, Sassafras,
Thou art the stuff for mel
And in the Spring I gladly sing,
Oh, SaSsafras, of the theei"
Well, that wasn't so bad" chuck
! led Mr.. Longears. II think I'll sing
the second verse OF my Spring
Song" He tried to remember the
| second verse, but he couldn't. Per-
haps there is no second verse TO that
song. But Uncle Wiggily tried hard
to remember and, all of a sudden,
along the bottom Of the hill came
the hungry Fox. Uncle Wiggily did
not see the Fox, but the Fox saw
the rabbit and whispered:
Here is where l get my Spring
luncheon" Up the hill crept the
hungry Fox and just then Uncle
Irrtrr1ral,- t,ni.nrr al - Il ILL of