Imperial Valley press., 1931-06-20
Why it's alive

the rabbit gentleman. - hope 1t
isn't the weasel again, for my
friend the butterfly isn't here to
look like owl eyes"
do you think we had better run
away?" whispered Baby Buny.
Not yet. We shall wait and see
what is coming" said Uncle Wig
gily. There may be no danger.
But get ready TO scurry away and
hide if I tell you to do so. I hope
it isn't the Fox, the Wolf or the
Bob Catl"
But alasl Uncle Wiggily's hopes
were all in vain; For, all of a sud
den, through the bushes came stalk
ing the Bob Cat with his silly little
tail no larger than baby's thumb.
Before Uncle Wiggily, the Lady
Mouse Teacher or any of the chill
dren could run, the Bob Cat was
right there in front of them. And
Uncle Wiggily knew if he gave the
word then, to run and hide, the
Bob Cat might make a jump and
scratch Baby Bunty or some of the
others.
"Oh, hol This is my lucky day."
meWed the Bob Cat. seeking Uncle
Wiggily, all the little rabbits and
many other small animal girls and
boys as we'll as Miss Mouse the
teacher. Il shall have plenty to eat
nowI Ha Hal Hal"
The Bob Cat laughed but no one
else felt jolly enough even to smile.
Then the Bob Cat began casting his
eyes around as if looking for some
thing.
Did you lose anything?" asked
Unce Wiggily. thinking he might
offer to help look for it and SO take
the Bob Cats attention while the
children ran away.
No, I didn't lose anything, but I
want a little stick with which TO
pick my teeth after l eat" said the
Bob Cat, looking hungrily at Uncle
Wiggily Maybe it isn't polite to
pick ones teeth" meWed the Bob
Cat, but I'm going to do it. Now
l want long, thin stick, or twig
for a toothpick. All, there is onel'
he cried and as he stopped over to
pick up what he wanted, Baby Bun
| ty laughed little.
Whats the matter?" asked the
Bob Cat. DO I look funny?"
You'll see in a minute!" chuc-
kled the little orphan rabbit
Wait until l get this tooth pick
twig and you'll see, too," growled
the Bob Cat. But, all of sudden
he jumped backward and cried out:
Why it's alivel Oh, it's crawling!
Oh, who ever saw toothpick twig
that was alive and could walk? This
must be some of Uncle Wiggily's
magicl I'd better run before some
thing happens to mel'
Then away the Bob Cat ran and
ne didn't hurt Uncle Wiggily or any
of the little animal boys and girls.
"Hal Hal" laughed Baby Bunty.
The insect that looked like a twig,
SO the Bob Cat thought it was a
toothpick stick, fooled him all
right"
yes" said Uncle Wiggily, "it did
and it's good thing. Thank you Mr..
Walking Stick" spoke the rabbit
gentleman to the insect which was
so long, slender and brown that
really it looked like a twig You
are made as you are SO hungry birds
will pass you by and not eat you,
thinking you are dried twig," said
the rabbit But this time you
fooled more than bird. You fooled
the Bob Cat"
And if you want to have some
fun and fool some of your little
bunny children" said Mr.. Walking
Sick, lust ask them to pick that
leaf" He pointed to a three
cornered light green thing on a
branch.
oh, it's easy to pick that leaf!'
said Buster. He stretched out his
paw but, before he could touch the
green leaf it blew away zooming
right past Busters pink nose.
"Oh, how funny A flying leaf!'
cried the rabbit boy.
THAT really was a Katy Did in
sect" said Uncle Wiggily with a
laugh in which Mr.. Walking Stick
joined Just as this first insect
looks like a twig, SO hungry birds
won't eat it, the Katy Dds greer
! wings are like leaf so 1t can sill
in the sun and not be bothered by
hungry birds. Thus Mother Nature
protects her helpless creatures,
said Mr.. Longears. Then the Lady
| hHot,ca cold che .uoc oIoI l,ot t@tts1sf.