 CHAPTER XIX of Uncle Wiggly on the Farm by Howard R. Garris The sleeper-vox recording is in the public domain. STORY XIX Uncle Wiggly and the Stones Well, where are you going this morning, Uncle Wiggly? Asked Nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, the muskrat lady-housekeeper, as she saw the rabbit gentleman hopping down, off the front porch of his hollow stump farmhouse. Are you going to dig potatoes or shell some peas? Well, I don't exactly know, answered the rabbit gentleman. I am going to take a walk over my farm and see how it looks after the rain. For there had been a shower in the night, and now, as the sun came up, each leaf glistened like forty-eleven million diamonds. Well, don't forget to come back for lunch, said Nurse Jane, as she went in and closed the door so the flies wouldn't buzz around the gas stove. We are going to have watermelon shortcake for lunch. Oh, I'll be sure to come, laughed Uncle Wiggly. And then he went on over his farm. Through the woods and across the fields he went, and pretty soon he came to a place where he had planted some beans. They ought to be almost ready to pick now, said the bunny gentleman to himself, but my goodness, me sakes alive and some butter toast. When Mr. Long-Ears looked for the beans, he couldn't see one. They had not come up. This is funny, exclaimed the bunny uncle. What is funny? asked a voice suddenly, and at first the bunny was afraid it might be the skillery-scailery alligator with his humps on his tail or the ear-scratching cat. But it was neither, being in fact grandfather Goosey-Gander himself. What is funny? asked Grandpa Goosey. No beans growing here, said Uncle Wiggly. I am sure I planted some. It's funny they didn't come up. Grandpa Goosey flew over the fence and looked at the ground. No wonder your beans did not come up, he said. Why didn't they, Uncle Wiggly wanted to know? Because there are too many stones in this field, went on, Grandpa Goosey. Why? It is just covered with them. The beans must all be underneath the stones. If I took the stones off, would the beans come up? asked the bunny gentleman. Of course they would, spoke Grandpa Goosey. Then off come the stones, cried Uncle Wiggly, and he began throwing them off his field into a little brook nearby, which already had many stones in it, but which did not mind having more. I'll help you, said Grandpa Goosey, and he too began tossing away the stones. But the rabbit gentleman and the goose's grandpa had tossed only a few stones when their backs began to ache, for they were not boys any longer. You know, though, they acted so sometimes. Oh dear, cried Uncle Wiggly, it will take us a year to clear this field of stones. There are so many. There are quite a lot, said Grandpa Goosey, sadly. But if we don't get rid of the stones, the beans will not grow. Uncle Wiggly looked at the hundreds and thousands of stones, then he suddenly cried with a twinkle of his nose. Ha! I know what to do. I have a plan to get rid of these stones very easily. How? asked Grandpa Goosey. I'll show you in a minute. You just stay here, and when you hear me coming back, you begin throwing stones, easy like, so as not to strain your wing. Well, said Grandpa Goosey, wiping his yellow bill on a blade of green grass. I don't know what your plan is, but I'll do what you say. Hop along. So Uncle Wiggly hopped along, his eyes twinkling as well as his nose. Pretty soon he met Sammy Little Tail, the rabbit boy. Sammy! Are you a good stone thrower? asked the bunny uncle. Fine, said Sammy, the best ever. Well, come with me, said Uncle Wiggly, mysterious like. He went along a little farther and met Johnny and Billy Bushy Tail, the two squirrels. Are you good stone throwers? he asked them. Dandy, they chattered. Come with me, invited the bunny uncle. And in the same way he got Jackie and Peaty Bow Wow, the puppies, and Billy Wagtail, the goat, and many other animal boys, then he took them to the stony field. Ahem! cried Uncle Wiggly out loud to let Grandpa Goosey Gander know he was coming with the animal boys. At once the Goose gentlemen began throwing stones. Ha! cried Uncle Wiggly, innocent like. There is someone throwing stones out of my field. He seems to be a good thrower too. I wonder if any of you boys can beat him. I can, said Sammy, and I and I cried the other animal chaps. We can beat him throwing stones. Down into the stony field they scampered, and each one began throwing stones out of it into the brook, trying to beat Grandpa Goosey and each other. In a little while not a stone was left in the field and the beans could come up as easy as pie. My, my! cried Uncle Wiggly, rubbing his eyes as he saw all the stones gone and without any trouble on his part at all. You animal chaps are certainly good throwers. I guess I'll have to give you each an ice cream cone. And he did, and Sammy and the others wondered why Uncle Wiggly and Grandpa Goosey laughed, so do you know? Anyhow, this teaches us that there are more ways of eating pie than with a fork. And, if the lollipop doesn't fall off the stick and splash into the mulberry jam, when they pass each other in the salt cellar, I'll tell you next about Uncle Wiggly and the hay, and the chapter 19. Chapter 20 of Uncle Wiggly on the Farm by Howard R. Garris. The sleeper-box recording is in the public domain. Story 20. Uncle Wiggly and the hay. Well there is no use in talking, said the bad old ear-scratching cat, as he sat under a tree one morning and looked first at the unpleasant tail-pulling monkey, and then at the nose-pinching baboon. There is no use at all in talking. No, and not much use doing anything else, either, said the chimp, as I call the chimpanzee for short. We haven't been able to catch him. I presume you are conversing about Uncle Wiggly long-years. Are you not, spoke the baboon, formal-like and disdainful? I am, said the ear-scratching cat. All the things we did to catch him didn't amount to a hill of the beans he grows on his farm. We might as well quit. Oh, don't say that, cried the babb, which is short for baboon. What can we do, asked the cat. Well, we all tried separately to catch him, went on the chimpanzee. Speaking of the different times they had tried to capture the bunny, suppose we try now together. All three of us will go as one and get him, and then we can scratch his ears and pinch his nose and pull his tail as much as we like and make up for lost time. All right, I'm willing to try, spoke the cat, but how is it to be done? I'll tell you, said the baboon. I was round Uncle Wiggly's hollow stump farmhouse the other day, and I heard him say he was going soon to cut his hay and put it in the barn. We'll just watch from behind the fence until he does that, and then we'll come up behind him when he's riding in on the load of hay. We'll all get a hold together, pull him off, and then we'll have him. Good, meowed the cat. Though I myself call it bad. That's how we'll get him. Come on, let's keep watch and see when he goes after the hay. So the three bad creatures made ready to get our Uncle Wiggly, but let us wait and see how he fools them, that is, providing my plans work out right, and he does, let us see, as they say in the books. It was not long after this that Uncle Wiggly took a walk across his farm. He came to the field where grew the hay, and he said, Yes, I must soon cut this and haul it into my barn, ready for winter, though cold weather is still far off, I hope. My hay is ready to be cut. I must see my friends and have them help me. So Uncle Wiggly called his friends together, especially an old swordfish whom he had met while on his vacation at the seashore. And the swordfish, with his long sharp nose, promised to cut the hay, which he did, as well as you could have done it, with a lawnmower. And now to haul the hay into the barn, said Uncle Wiggly, You may have my express wagon for that, kindly said Sammy Little Tale the Rabbit Boy, and with my long sharp horns I'll pitch the hay up on the wagon for you, said the cow, who jumped over the moon. For my horns are like a pitchfork. Thank you, said Uncle Wiggly. And I'll haul into the barn for you the wagon-load of hay, said Gup, the kind old horse, for he was very strong. Thank you all very kindly, spoke Uncle Wiggly. Then with his friends, including the swordfish, he went out to the hayfield. Now's our chance, exclaimed the bad cat, who was on the watch, with the monkey and the baboon. In softly, very softly, they went on after Uncle Wiggly intending to get him this time for sure. The swordfish cut the hay, as I have told you. Then it was gathered into piles all over the field. Now watch me toss it up on the wagon, cried the moon cow, as I call her for short. She stuck her horns in a pile of fodder, gave a toss of her head, and up on the wagon went the hay. Uncle Wiggly stood on the wagon to spread out the hay evenly, as the moon cow tossed it up. Higher and higher on the wagon, the hay was piled, and Gup, the kind horse who was to pull the wagon to the barn, stood waiting, eating the wisps of hay that fell off to the ground. Well, I guess we'll call this a load, said Uncle Wiggly after a bit. Get up, Gup! So Gup started off, and the bad ear-scratching cat said to the chimpanzee and the baboon, gone. Now's her chance. After the hay wagon, on top of which rode Uncle Wiggly, they went. Oh, how sure they were that they were going to catch the bunny uncle. But are they? Just watch. Now all together, cried the cat, the three of them reached up to pull the hay wagon, Uncle Wiggly, hay and all, head over heels, when all of a sudden the front wheels struck a stone. Before Gup could stop it, the wagon tilted up in the air, the front end going high and the back end low. Off slid the load of hay, right on top of the bad cat, the worst baboon and the worst chimpanzee. They were covered out of sight, but as for Uncle Wiggly, he just stayed right on top of the soft hay and sat there the same as if he were on a soft cushion. So he wasn't hurt at all. But the three bad creatures were way down under the hay that had slid off the wagon and the dust got up their noses and the hay tickled them and they sneezed and choked and coughed and had a dreadful time. They crawled out as fast as they could and ran away. My goodness, cried Uncle Wiggly, as he saw them go. I didn't know they were anywhere around. And I guess the three bad ones, which they hadn't been. Then the cow and gup loaded the hay back on the wagon. Again and all was well. So Uncle Wiggly got away again, you see. And if the fire shovel doesn't burn its handle when it takes the ashes out for a trolley ride, I'll tell you next about Uncle Wiggly and the groundhog and a chapter 20. Chapter 21 of Uncle Wiggly on the Farm by Howard Argeras. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Story 21, Uncle Wiggly and the Groundhog. Oh, Uncle Wiggly, Uncle Wiggly, hurry up, called Billy Bushetail the squirrel boy one morning as he ran over to the hollow stump farmhouse where the rabid gentleman lived with nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, the muskrat lady. What's the matter? The bunny uncle wanted to know. Has your brother Johnny swallowed a nut down his wrong throat or is Mother Goose taking my automobile up in the sky to sweep away the cobwebs? Oh, neither one answered Billy, who was so excited that his tail went up and down just like a pump handle. But there's a great big animal over in one of your farm fields, Uncle Wiggly, he went on. I just saw him as I ran past on the fence. Oh, he's awful big. You ought to go drive him out or he may eat up all your cabbages, potatoes and onions. I don't much care if he does eat the onions, said Uncle Wiggly with a laugh, for I don't like them myself. Still, if some big animal is on my farm, was it a bear? He suddenly asked Billy. No, it wasn't big enough for a bear, the little squirrel boy said. Oh, was it this skillery scalery alligator? Asked the bunny man. No. And it didn't seem to be the fox either, nor yet the tail pulling chimpanzee, nor even the ear-scratching cat went on Billy. I'll go see what it is, said the brave rabbit gentleman. He took a pop gun he had bought for his little nephew, Sammy Little Tail, and with talcum powder to put in it to shoot and some beans for bullets. Off he started. Don't you want to come along, Billy? He asked. Oh, no, thank you. I think I hear my mother calling me. She wants me. Spoke the chattering squirrel chap, sort of diffident and not at all eager like. Well, I'll go myself, said Uncle Wiggly, sort of smiling at Billy. The rabbit man came to a big field of clover on his farm and looking over down among the green leaves, he saw some animal sitting near a stone. Ha, Billy was right. There is someone there, exclaimed Uncle Wiggly to himself. This must never be. I am not running an animal farm. Then getting behind the fence, he loaded his pop gun with a sweet-smelling talcum powder and aiming it at the animal, cried. Excuse me, but this is my farm. I don't want to be cross or impolite, but you must go away and not eat any of my clover. Oh, I must a, cried the strange animal and then sitting up on its hind legs. It looked at Uncle Wiggly as it asked. Do you know who I am? I can't help who you are, said Uncle Wiggly. You must get out of my field. I am the ground hog, was the answer, and I must eat clover. All ground hogs do that. If I didn't eat clover, I couldn't be a ground hog. I'd have to be a bad cat or a dog or a fox or even, oh, say no more, cried Uncle Wiggly, sort of tying his ears in a knot. I did not know he were a ground hog. And you are some relation, I suppose, to grunter, squeaker and twisty tail, the pigs? Who belonged to Mother Goose? Yes, I am their 32nd cousin, said the ground hog. And I am very sorry I ordered you out of my field. You may stay in it as long as you please and eat as much clover as you like, spoke Uncle Wiggly. Thank you, said the ground hog, as he went on eating. Come and see me sometime. I live right over there. And he pointed to a big hole in the ground, almost as large as a water pail. I will come and see you, promised Uncle Wiggly. And he was to make a visit much sooner than he expected. For a little while, the rabid gentleman stood by the fence, watching the ground hog eat the clover. And Uncle Wiggly was glad there was plenty of it on his farm. Well, said the bunny uncle after a while. I guess I might as well leave my pop gun with the talcum powder and bean bullets here while I look over the rest of my fields. So he did, hopping along on his way, but he had not traveled very far before all of a sudden out from behind a stump jumped the bad old ear-scratching cat. Wow, meow, howled the cat. Now I have you for sure. You can't get away from me this time. Oh, can't I? Well, we'll see, said Uncle Wiggly, away he ran, but the cat ran after him. And the bad creature went so much faster than the bunny that Mr. Long Ears soon saw he could not get away. Oh, if I had only thought to bring the pop gun, he said, I could shoot the cat, or if I only had time to stop and dig a hole, I could crawl in it and hide, but I can do neither. Oh dear, I guess I'm caught. Then all at once the bunny uncle heard a voice calling, jump down in my house, Uncle Wiggly. There you will be safe from the cat. Here's the hole, jump in. And there stood the clover-eating groundhog pointing to his underground house. Down into this jumped Uncle Wiggly with the groundhog following after and closing the stone front door so the cat could not get down. Fooled again, howled the bad creature, lashing its tail when it found the rabbit was gone, but Uncle Wiggly was safe in the hole and he was very glad he had let the groundhog stay on his farm and eat clover. And when the cat ran away, the bunny uncle could come out of the hole and go safely to his farmhouse bungalow. So if the clothespin doesn't hide in the peach basket to get away from the ringer, which might pinch its nose, I'll tell you next about Uncle Wiggly and the mustard. And to chapter 21, chapter 22 of Uncle Wiggly on the farm. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Story 22, Uncle Wiggly and the mustard. Uncle Wiggly, does any mustard grow on your farm? Asked Nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, the muskrat lady housekeeper one day as she saw the rabbit gentleman putting on his tall silk hat to hop across the fields where he had planted many things. Mustard, he exclaimed. Why, yes, I think so, I'll look. And he opened a little book in which he had written the names of all the seeds he had planted on his farm. Hmm, he went on, thoughtful-like. Well, let's see now. Muskmelon, marshmallow, candy, mince pies. Ah, yes, here we are, mustard. It's in the green meadow over by the brook. Do you want some mustard, Nurse Jane? I would like a little, Sachie. I am making some mustard pickles and the mustard on your farm is much better than any I could get at the store. Oh, it's ever so much better, cried the bunny uncle. I'll bring you some when I come back. After tying knots in the string beans, they are slipping off the poles and I must fasten them on. Well, don't forget the mustard, cried the muskrat lady, playfully shaking her tail at the bunny uncle, who hopped on, his pink nose twinkling in the sun, like a strawberry on top of an orange shortcake. On and over his farm went the rabbit gentleman and pretty soon he came to where the beans grew. Some of them needed tying up on the poles and after he had done this, Uncle Wiggly started back for the hollow-stump farmhouse. He had not gone very far before he thought about the mustard he had promised to bring to Nurse Jane. I'll hop over to the green brook meadow and pick some for her, he said. The mustard bush was a very big one, though the plant itself has very little seeds and soon Uncle Wiggly had picked enough of them for Nurse Jane. He wrapped the mustard seeds in a green leaf of the plant and put the little package in the top of his tall silk hat. The old rabbit gentleman walked a little farther across the farm and then he thought it was time to go back to the hollow stump for he was getting hungry. He had not hop very far, however, before he heard a rustling in the bushes near him and he saw the bush move and before Uncle Wiggly could do or say anything, out popped the bad old ear-scratching cat. Aha, oh-ho, yell the cat, we meet again, I see. And he screwed up his whiskers in such a funny way that Uncle Wiggly wanted to laugh and he would have done it too, only he was afraid the cat would not like it. We meet again, you see, the unpleasant creature went on. Yes, said Uncle Wiggly, slowly and sadly, we do. But I am not any the happier for it. No, but think how happy I am, exclaimed the cat. I have ears to scratch now. Oh, such nice big long ears. And the cat looked at the flipping, flopping ones of the rabbit gentleman and put out his sharp claws, sort as if he were practicing his music lesson on the piano that cat did, but what he really was doing was practicing for scratching Uncle Wiggly's ears. Oh, please let me go, begged the bunny uncle, as the cat suddenly put out one paw and caught him fast by the edge of his coat. Oh no, I shan't let you go, said the cat. You are coming with me. I have some little kittens. I wish to teach them ears scratching, so you are very much needed. Come with me to my den. Please don't, begged the rabbit again. Yes, I shall, yelled the cat. In a way he led poor Mr. Long Ears, who wished very much indeed that he had tiny little ears like a canary bird, for then the cat wouldn't have seen them to scratch them. Uncle Wiggly looked all around for someone to help him, but he saw no one. There was not a policeman dog in sight to scare away the cat, and it looked as though Uncle Wiggly was in for a bad time. And then all of a sudden he saw quite a long way off Mrs. Wibblewobble, the duck lady. Oh, Mrs. Wibblewobble, how do you do? Cried the uncle, and then acting politely, as he always did, he took off his tall silk hat and made a bow. Mrs. Wibblewobble was too far off to see the bow or help the rabbit, but when Uncle Wiggly took off his hat, out fell the leaf full of hot mustard seeds. Out on the ground it fell. Ah, what is this? Cried the cat. Something good to eat, I'm sure? Don't take that. It's for Nurse Jane, said Uncle Wiggly. She is going to make, she is going to make nothing of this, impolitely interrupted the cat, for I am going to eat it. And with that he made a bite into the leaf full of mustard seeds. And then, well, I guess you know what happened. Oh, wow, yelled the cat. Oh, double wow, and a trolley transfer on another one. Oh, mush cakes and fish balls, oh. And with that, his mouth burning like fire, that bad cat ran away to get a drink of ice water. And so he didn't scratch our Uncle Wiggly after all. My, it's a good thing I had that mustard, said the bunny, as he went back to get some more seeds for Nurse Jane's pickles. And then he hopped safely home to dinner. And if the bluebird doesn't turn red, when it sees the goldfish trying to swim with the cracker dust in the bread box, I'll tell you next about Uncle Wiggly and the chickweed. End of chapter 22. Chapter 23 of Uncle Wiggly on the Farm. This is a LibraVox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraVox.org. Story 23, Uncle Wiggly and the Chickweed. Sammy Little Tail, the rabbit boy, was one day taking a hop, skip, and jump over the farm of Uncle Wiggly Long Ears, the bunny gentleman, about whom I have told you so many stories. My, Uncle Wiggly certainly has a nice farm, said Sammy, as he looked at the popcorn and baked beans and the succotash and the tomato salad and eggplants to say nothing of the carrots and lettuce growing in the fields. The horseradish was running toward the beans, which were climbing up poles, just like the man in the circus. And the strong onions were making the potatoes blink their eyes so they couldn't talk to the corn, which was listening with all its ears. Sammy saw some little green, shiny leaves with tiny flowers among them growing close to the ground. Oh, I wonder what that plant is, exclaimed the rabbit boy. I am the chickweed, if you please, was the cheerful answer. Chickweed, cried Sammy, say no more. I must tell Uncle Wiggly about this. Away hop the rabbit boy to where the bunny uncle was sitting on the front porch of the hollow stump farmhouse. Oh, Uncle Wiggly, cried Sammy, well, what do you think I found growing on your farm just now? Well, I'm sure I don't know, answered the old rabbit gentleman. I hope the old skillery, scalery alligator hasn't been planting moth balls so a lot of butterflies will hatch out. No, it isn't like that, Sammy said. It's a plant that will grow little chickens. Come, see it quick before it goes away. A plant that grows little chickens, Uncle Wiggly cried, that is very strange. I did not know I had that kind on my farm. Somebody must have been planting eggs. I'll come with you right away, Sammy. So the old rabbit gentleman taking his red, white and blue striped rheumatism crutch down off the porch railing where it was having a rest started off with Sammy across the farm. There it is, Uncle Wiggly, cried Sammy, pointing to the green leaves going down in a corner by the fence. There is the plant that will make little chickens. Let's stay here until some hatch out. Won't it be funny to see little chickens coming out from under the green leaves instead of out of eggshells? It certainly will, Sammy laughed, Uncle Wiggly, but it never will happen. Oh, ha, ha, also, ho, ho. What is the matter, asked Sammy for his rabbit uncle was now laughing very hard. Can't chickens grow out of this plant? No, indeed, Sammy, my boy, answered the rabbit gentleman. It is true that the name of these green leaves is chick, but it is chickweed and not a plant which will turn into little chickens. It is only a weed, so I must pull it up and cut it down or it will spoil my farm. And Uncle Wiggly raised his crutch as though he would beat the chickweed all to pieces. Oh, please don't spoil as big the chickweed flowers and leaves. It is true we are neither a fruit nor a vegetable, but if you let us grow on your farm, we may be able to do a friend of yours a favor. Let us stay. Now Uncle Wiggly had the kindest heart in the world. So when you heard the chickweed say this, he scratched his whiskers, twinkled his pink nose and wobbled his ears and said, well, I suppose I have to, but dear me, if this keeps on, I'll have nothing but weeds on my farm. However, I'll let you grow this time, but don't do it again. So the chickweed promised it wouldn't and Uncle Wiggly and Sammy went on over the farm. After a while, Sammy went to the lollipop store to get an ice cream cone and the rabbit gentleman hopped along to his hollow stump house. No sooner had he gotten there when he saw Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy the Muscat Ladyhousekeeper running up and down on the porch, tying her tail in hard knots and quickly taking them out again. Why, whatever's the matter, Jane, asked the rabbit. Oh, matter enough, she cried. Charlie, the little chicken boy of Mrs. Cluck-Cluck the Hen Lady, is very ill. We have sent for Dr. Possum, but he isn't in his office. Mrs. Cluck-Cluck says if she could only find some chickweed for Charlie, he would soon be better without having the doctor. Chickweed, cried Uncle Wiggly, say no more. I know where some is and I'll get it at once. Then jumping into his automobile and sprinkling pepper on the bologna sausage tires to make them go faster, he soon rode to that part of his farm where the chickweed grew. Quick, cried the bunny uncle, I need some of your leaves to make Charlie chick better. May I take some? As many as you like, said the kind chickweed. We are glad to help. Then Uncle Wiggly plucked some leaves and blossoms. And when Mrs. Cluck-Cluck had made a tea of them and Charlie had zipped it, he was all well again. Oh, I'm so glad I didn't pull that chickweed on my farm, said Uncle Wiggly that night. It is good, even if it isn't a fruit or vegetable. So this teaches us that everything has some use in this world, even mosquitoes, though please don't ask me what good they are. And if the motorcycle doesn't turn into a hand organ and sew the monkey's tail fast to the Jitney bus, I'll tell you next what Uncle Wiggly and the Shortcake. End of chapter 23. Chapter 24 of Uncle Wiggly on the Farm by Howard R. Garris. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Story 24, Uncle Wiggly and the Shortcake. Do you know what we are going to have for supper tonight, Nurse Jane? Asked Uncle Wiggly long years the rabbit gentleman as he saw his muskrat lady housekeeper clearing off the table after lunch one day. Why, yes, seeing that I have to cook it, of course. I know what we are going to have for supper, she answered with a laugh. We are going to have stewed carrots, fried parsnips, a bit of lettuce salad and cucumber pancake. Something else, laughed Uncle Wiggly, making his rheumatism crutch, dance a jig on the floor. We are going to have something else. Is it ice cream, asked Nurse Jane? Are you going to bring some ice cream home for dessert? Not exactly, Uncle Wiggly answered, but it is almost as nice. It's going to be strawberry shortcake. Strawberry shortcake, cried Nurse Jane. How are you going to buy that at the five and 10 cent store? I didn't say I was going to buy it, laughed the bunny uncle, his pink nose twinkling faster than ever. You are going to make the cake. I, asked Nurse Jane, sort of flustered like, pray tell how I can make a strawberry shortcake when I have no berries. But you shall have them, Uncle Wiggly spoke. Some lovely strawberries grow on my farm and I am now going over to pick a basketful. When I come back with them, you can make the cake. Fine, said Nurse Jane, I'll be baking the cake part while you're after the berries since they do not need to be baked. Hurry along, Wiggly. Speaking of strawberries makes me hungry. I'll go for them at once, said the bunny uncle, and away he started hopping, skipping and jumping over the fields and woods of his farm. Now and then leaning on his red, white and blue striped rheumatism crutch that Nurse Jane had nod for him out of a sugar cane. Excuse me, I mean a corn stalk. It was a pleasant summer day with the sun brightly shining and Uncle Wiggly did not have to hurry as it would not be time for supper until several hours later. So he took his time. Now and then stopping to look at something growing on his farm. By and by he came to the strawberry patch and there he saw the bright red berries gleaming like stars down in the green leaves. Oh, it seems too bad to pick you and take you out of your nice green leafy bed, said the bunny uncle. But I know you would rather go into a strawberry shortcake for Nurse Jane and me than be out here all alone, wouldn't you? Indeed we would, said the strawberries all together in a sort of ice cream soda voice. So Uncle Wiggly began picking them, putting them in the basket he had brought with him on his paw. In a little while it was nearly full and he thought, as he now had enough red berries, that he would go back to his hollow stump farmhouse with them to let Nurse Jane put them to sleep in the cake. Yes, I'll go now, said Uncle Wiggly speaking out loud as he sometimes did in talking to himself. Oh no, you shant, suddenly exclaimed a harsh voice. Shant what? Uncle Wiggly asked. You shant go away now and leave me like this. I want you to come with me. And there on the outside of the strawberry bed stood the bad old fox. Oh dear, sadly, said the bunny uncle. I wish you had stayed away until I got safely home. Oh ho, but I don't, snarled the fox. If I had stayed away, I would have had no supper tonight. For you are coming to supper with me. We are going to have a good time together. I guess you'll have all the good time, went on Mr. Long Ears, for well, he knew what the fox would do to him. Makes stew of him, without a doubt. Well, come along now, said the fox. I'm getting hungry for my supper. Oh, if you are hungry, won't you have some of these? Asked Uncle Wiggly politely holding out his basket on his paw. Have some of what, asked the fox? Strawberries, said the bunny uncle, do have some. They will make you feel less hungry. Where Uncle Wiggly thought, if the fox ate enough strawberries, he would not want a rabbit stew for supper. Well, I'll try just one, said the fox. And taking a ripe red strawberry from the bunny gentleman's basket in his paw, the hungry fox squeezed the berry so hard that the red juice ran all over his leg and paw and he cried. Oh, what a trick, what a trick. You fooled me, you didn't give me a strawberry at all. You gave me a knife and I have cut myself. I am bleeding to death, oh dear, this is terrible. I must run to the doctors at once, oh dear. And seeing the red strawberry juice on his paw and thinking he was cut, when he wasn't at all, a way ran the fox, leaving Uncle Wiggly safely there with the berries for the shortcake. Well, that was getting off easy, said Mr. Long Ears with a smile, as he hopped on home. I did not believe the fox was so easily scared. Then the bunny gentleman and nurse Jane had a fine strawberry shortcake for supper. And if the cricket doesn't play his chirping fiddle too loudly, then he scares the lightning bug out of the moving pictures. I'll tell you next about Uncle Wiggly and the stump into chapter 24. Chapter 25 of Uncle Wiggly on the Farm by Howard R. Garrus. This lever box recording is in the public domain. Story 25, Uncle Wiggly and the Stump. Bang, bang, bangity, bang, bang. That is what Uncle Wiggly Long Ears, the rabbit gentleman, heard one morning as he awakened in his hollow stump farmhouse and looked out the window. Hello, what's that? He cried, sitting up in bed and stretching his whiskers. Is the roof falling in? Or is some hunter man shooting at my chimney? Neither one answered nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, the Muscat Lady housekeeper who was down in the kitchen making the fried eggs dance in the pan for the rabbit gentleman's breakfast. Don't you know what day it is? She asked, why it's Monday, isn't it? Asked the bunny uncle. Yes, but it is also the 4th of July, answered the Muscat Lady. And the noise you hear is, ha, I know now, cried Uncle Wiggly jumping out of bed. Of course, it's the firecrackers, the torpedoes and the paper caps being shot off by the animal boys and girls because they are so glad there is no more school. Hip, hip, hooray, he shouted, dancing around on his red, white and blue striped rheumatism crutch which nurse Jane had nod for him out of a corn stock. I'm going to celebrate too, went on the rabbit gentleman. I'm going to be glad I'm living under the stars and stripes and I'm going to make a noise too. What are you going to do, asked nurse Jane? Blow up a stump, replied the bunny. On my farm are a lot of old big black stumps and where they are stuck in the ground, nothing will grow. I'll make some holes in them, put powder in the holes and touch a match to it. The powder will blow the stump all to pieces and it will make a big noise. So I'll have my fourth of July and at the same time be joyful and glad that I live in the home of the free and the land of the brave. Good for you, cried nurse Jane waving her tail as she had no flag, just then to flutter. So the animal children, Sammy and Susie Little Tail, Johnny and Billy Bush Tail, Lulu and Alice and Jimmy Wibble Wobble who were ducks and Jackie and Petey Bow Wow, the puppies, to say nothing of Nanny and Billy Wagtail, the goats, had their fourth of July fun. In those days, it was all right for the rabbits, squirrels, skinny pigs, little bears, ducks and goats to shoot firecrackers as much as they liked for the things they shot were only very, very little pieces of fireworks. But now it is better for you real boys and girls to go to a picnic or drink pink lemonade or something like that instead of burning yourself or hurting yourself with powder. So there was a bang up time in animal land and when Uncle Wiggly had put some gun powder in his valise after he had eaten his breakfast over the fields, he went to see where the old stumps were in the way on his farm. With an ice pick, the rabbit gentleman made a hole in one stump. Into the hole, he poured some powder and on top of the powder, he put a firecracker string which will burn slowly and set off the black stuff that makes such a noise. I'll have a little fourth of July all by myself, said Uncle Wiggly, as he lighted the firecracker string and then off he hopped to be out of the way when the explosion came. He sat down at a safe distance and while he was waiting, all of a sudden out from the woods came the bad old skillery scalery alligator with the double-jointed tail. Right down on the stump sat the gator and with a broad smile, he said, uh-huh, at last I have you, Uncle Wiggly. Don't you dare run away from me or I'll throw stones at you and tickle you so in the ribs that you'll turn a somersault and I'll have you anyhow. Now, let me see. Excuse me, suddenly exclaimed Uncle Wiggly, but would you mind getting off that stump? Get off the stump, I certainly will not, barked the alligator, almost like a toy dog. I see what you want, you want me to slip off and hurt my legs so I can't chase you, but I'll do nothing of the sort. I'll just stay here until I get ready to take you away with me and then please get off the stump, politely begged the rabbit, for well he knew what was going to happen. Please get off, if you don't. But Uncle Wiggly couldn't say it. The firecracker's string was smoking and the spark was getting nearer and nearer to the powder when all of a sudden there was a big noise. Bang! The stump blew all to pieces, up in the air, head over heels when the alligator turning summer salt after pepper salt and as he sailed towards the sky, he cried, oh, safety pins, why didn't you tell me this was going to happen? I tried to, spoke Uncle Wiggly, but you would not listen. Then the alligator sailed far, far away, being blown up with Uncle Wiggly's gunpowder stump and he didn't come down for a long while, but it served him right, I think. Oh, Uncle Wiggly is having a fourth of July, cried all the animal children when they heard the stump explosion. Was that a balloon you sent up, they asked? No, that was a flying alligator, said the bunny uncle laughing and twinkling his pink nose. He didn't like my stump, so away he flew. Then the fourth of July fun went on, louder than ever and most jollyly. And if the sidewalk flag stone doesn't wave itself in the air and trip up the postman when he brings a letter to the waxed doll, I'll tell you next about Uncle Wiggly and the lion. End of chapter 25. Chapter 26 of Uncle Wiggly on the Farm by Howard Argeras. The Sleeper Fox recording is in the public domain. Story 26, Uncle Wiggly and the Lion. Uncle Wiggly long ears, the nice rabbit gentleman was walking down the road one day, going over to a far distant part of his farm. When just as he passed the hollow stump school, which would soon close for the summer, he saw coming out Susie Little Tail, the rabbit girl. Susie had her books under her paw and she was smiling and happy. Why do you come out of school when none of the other animal boys and girls are coming from their classes? Uncle Wiggly wanted to know. Because I finished my lessons, answered Susie. The lady mouse teacher said I could come home even if it is early. You see, it is examination time, but I am all over mine. I hope you passed, went on the bunny uncle. I hope so too, spoke Susie, bending her ears down in a polite bow. Oh, where are you going? she asked. Over to see how the carrots are growing on my farm, said Mr. Long Ears. Don't you want to come with me? Indeed I do, exclaimed Susie, happy like and pleased. She always liked to go anywhere with Uncle Wiggly. So the bunny gentleman and the rabbit girl went along holding paws and pretty soon Susie saw something like a green tassel growing out of the ground. Oh, how pretty, she cried. I will take that home for my hat. And before Uncle Wiggly could stop her, she had pulled up on the green thing. On the end was a long yellow thing, like an ice cream cone with a sharp point. And before she knew it, Susie had pricked herself on her paw with a sharp end. Ouch, she cried. Your carrots are sharp, just like spears or arrows, Uncle Wiggly. Yes, I guess they are, said the bunny man. You must be careful, Susie. I didn't mean to pull up a carrot, went on the little animal girl. The green top looked just like a tassel or plume for my hat. Oh, take all the carrots you want. Only don't stick yourself with them, spoke Uncle Wiggly. So Susie carried the carrot with her books and she and Uncle Wiggly went on over the farm. The carrots were growing very nicely and soon Uncle Wiggly came to where he had planted some beans. They too were doing well. Susie picked one of the green beans and wanted to see what was inside. She broke it open, but it did not easily come apart, being held together by a sort of a green cord. Oh, Uncle Wiggly, cried Susie. What makes the pieces of the bean tied together this way? Those are string beans, Uncle Wiggly said with a laugh. There is a string on each side of every bean and this string holds them together. When Nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy cooks the beans, she has to take off the strings. I see, said Susie, and she broke another bean and pulled off the string. While Uncle Wiggly hoed the dirt up around the roots of the corn, making a little hill. While the rapid gentleman was doing this, Susie looked around for something to play with. At first she could see nothing, but after a while she found a cob off which the kernels of corn had been shelled. Oh, I shall make me a little corn cob doll, she said to herself, looking over to see how much longer Uncle Wiggly would be hoeing the corn. He had a number of hills yet to make. I'll go over in the corn field and get some silk from the ears of corn to make a dress for my corn cob doll, said Susie. Then I'll have some fun. She laid down her books and she went over to where the green corn grew. Susie was just taking some of the long stringy silk. When happening to look over in the fence corner, she saw something that made her heart beat very fast. For there all curled up and asleep was a big lion. He'd gotten away from the circus and had run to hide on Uncle Wiggly's farm. Oh my, whispered Susie to herself, what a big lion. If he sees Uncle Wiggly, maybe he'll bite him or carry him off to his cage in the circus. Thought the little rabbit girl, what can I do to save Uncle Wiggly? If I could only tie that lion up so he could not get loose, then he wouldn't hurt Uncle Wiggly. Aha, I have it. The strong strings from the string beans. I'll tie the lion with them, Susie said. Without saying anything to Uncle Wiggly and not waking up the lion, Susie pulled a lot of the strings from the beans. These she tied together into a strong rope and then braved Susie very softly and gently fast in the lion's legs so he could not get up and run. When she was all finished, the lion was still asleep. Susie went over and told Uncle Wiggly what she had done and she took with her the sharp pointed carrot with which to tickle the ribs of any other circus animals that might be on the farm. What? You tied up a lion with strings from the beans? Did you? cried the bunny uncle. Why, that's just fine. I could have done no better myself. Then with the carrot spear to be used in case anything happened, Uncle Wiggly went with Susie to look at the string bean tied sleeping lion and the big fellow never woke up until the circus man later that day came to put him back in his cage. The circus man took the bean strings off the lion's legs. So Susie little tail tied me up, did she? said the lion when he was back in his cage. Well, she mean to have bothered for I wouldn't have bitten her or Uncle Wiggly either not for a million popcorn balls. Thus everything came out all right, you see. And if the teaspoon holder doesn't grab the milk pitch or so tightly that the lemon squeezer has to help pull it loose. I'll tell you next about Uncle Wiggly and the hammocks. And to chapter 26, chapter 27 of Uncle Wiggly on the Farm by Howard R. Garris. This Leber Fox recording is in the public domain. Story 27, Uncle Wiggly and the hammocks. Well, well, what's this exclaimed Uncle Wiggly long ears the rabbit gentleman as he came down to breakfast in his hollow stump farmhouse one morning and found on the table nothing to eat. What's the matter? Oh, are you down so soon? Ask nurse Jane Fuzzy-Buzzy, the muskrat lady housekeeper coming in from the side porch like a policeman with her tail draped over her paw. The way a June bride carries her train of crepe to sneeze or whatever it is brideswear. What's the matter with breakfast? Asked the bunny uncle. I'm very hungry this morning. Oh, I beg your pardon nurse Jane made answer. But I was so busy thinking about them that I forgot all about your meal. I'll get it ready at once. Do you think they will fit here? Fit here? Fit here? What were you so busy thinking about? Asked Uncle Wiggly. The hammocks answered nurse Jane. You see, I bought two new ones up at the five and 10 cent store the other day and I thought it would be nice if you would put them up on the side porch. One for you and one for me. Fine, cried the bunny uncle. I'll do it at once. Where are the hammocks? They just came answered nurse Jane. I'll take them out of the bundle and then I'll get your breakfast. And while you're getting breakfast, I'll be putting up the hammocks said the bunny gentleman. So nurse Jane after opening the five and 10 cent store bundle went in to let the breakfast eggs play tag in the hot water and Mr. Long Ears began putting up the hammocks but he had not gone very far towards that work. When he called out, Oh, I say nurse Jane, did you get any hooks with these hammocks? Hooks, what kind of hooks? Asked the muskrat lady. Do you mean fish hooks? No, I mean hammock hooks answered Uncle Wiggly. You see on each end of the hammock is a rope and this rope from either end has to hang from a hook fastened to the side of the porch. So the hammock will swing to and fro. Did you get the hooks? Why no, I didn't. Slowly spoke the muskrat lady coming to the door of the kitchen with an oatmeal spoon in her paw. I never thought of hooks. Nevermind, kindly spoke Uncle Wiggly. I'll get them after breakfast. So piling the hammocks neatly in the corner of the porch, Uncle Wiggly went into the hollow stump farmhouse and ate his breakfast. Now I'm off to the hardware store for the hooks, he said to nurse Jane. As he came out with a toothpick in his paw, soon I'll have the hammocks swung up for you. You are very kind, said nurse Jane. Pray do not mention it, begged Uncle Wiggly's sort of extra polite because it was such a nice day. It did not take him long to hop on his red, white and blue striped rheumatism crutch over to the nail or hardware store for the hammock things. The iron man who waited on Uncle Wiggly gave him the hammock hooks and carrying them under his paw back the bunny gentlemen started for his hollow stump. Now just about this time, the bad old nose punching baboon, the ear scratching cat and the tail pulling chimpanzee were having a meeting in the woods. How can we catch Uncle Wiggly, they asked one another. I'll tell you how, suddenly exclaimed a voice that came from a swamp of water nearby. How? All three asked. Let me try, was the answer. And who are you? The hard-biting dogfish came the reply. I am a fish, but being a dogfish, I can travel on land as well swim in the water. Sometimes I live in a swamp like this. I'll catch Uncle Wiggly for you. Shall I try? Yes, cried the baboon, the chimp, as I call him for short, and the cat. Out of the water came the dogfish taking off his rubber boots, which he did not need on dry land. Off he started to catch Uncle Wiggly and having very sharp eyes, he soon saw the rabbit gentleman hopping across the fields of his farm with a bundle under his paw. I don't know what he has with him, said the dogfish to himself, but whatever it is, I'll bite it hard before I take him to those three animals who will pinch his nose, pull his tail, and scratch his ears. The dogfish waited until Uncle Wiggly was quite close and then jumping out from behind a tree. He cried, aha, I have you. I am the hard-biting dogfish and I'm going to take you to the cat, the baboon, and chimp. But before I do, I'll just give a bite to whatever you have there. Then not stopping to ask what it was, the dogfish suddenly bit on the bundle the rabbit carried, and as there were hammock hooks in it, why, of course, you know what happened. Oh, angle worms and lead sinkers, cried the dogfish, I'm hooked, I'm caught. There are four hooks in my mouth. I never thought I'd be caught by a hook on dry land. I'm going back to the swamp. They can catch Uncle Wiggly themselves. Then dropping from his mouth the hammock hooks, which were too hard even for him to bite with comfort, a wave flopped the dogfish, and Uncle Wiggly was safe once more. What queer things do happen to me, thought the bunny uncle as he picked up the hooks and went on to put up the hammocks for Nurse Jane. This was a lucky escape, and I think so myself. And if the spool of thread doesn't unwind and get all tangled up in the lawnmower, when it goes out to play tennis on the grass with the croquet balls, I'll tell you next about Uncle Wiggly and the rats. End of chapter 27. Chapter 28 of Uncle Wiggly on the Farm by Howard Argeras. The Sleeper Fox recording is in the public domain. Story 28, Uncle Wiggly and the Rats. Well, well, this is queer, exclaimed Uncle Wiggly long years. The nice old rabbit gentleman one day as he walked out of his hollow stump farmhouse and stood in front of the corn crib. This is very strange. What is, asked Nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, the Muscat Ladyhousekeeper, as she stood on the front stoop, drying the breakfast dishes. Why someone has been taking corn out of the crib, went on the bunny uncle. Well, that's too bad, exclaimed Nurse Jane. I hope they didn't wake it up. Oh, wake who up, asked the bunny gentleman. The corn answered Nurse Jane. You said it was asleep in the crib, and oh, I didn't say it was asleep, spoke the bunny gentleman with a laugh. I just said it was in the corn crib. The crib for corn is not like the kind of crib a baby sleeps in. It is just a sort of shed with holes in the wall so the air can get through to dry the corn. But a lot of the corn that grew on my farm has been taken out of the crib. I hope you didn't take it out to make a cornmeal pudding. Oh, no, not at all, cried Nurse Jane. I only used the finely ground cornmeal for pudding. The corn which you had in the crib was in ears, wasn't it? Yes, and Uncle Wiggly it was. And a lot of the ears have been taken out. I wonder who could have done it? Why don't you watch and find out, asked Nurse Jane. I shall, Uncle Wiggly said, and that day he kept watch of his corn crib. It was not long before, as he hid behind the barn and peeked out, he heard a noise near the crib. He peeked around the corner and saw a great big rat running away from the crib with an ear of corn in his mouth. Uh-huh, cried the bunny uncle. So it is you who have been taken my corn, is it? Hold on there, I want to talk to you. The rat stopped, and Uncle Wiggly hopped over. Why did you take my corn, asked the bunny uncle? Because I was hungry, answered the rat. Hungry, exclaimed the bunny uncle. That's too bad, I didn't know that. So you really need some of my corn? Of course I do, answered the rat. My wife and little ones have not had anything to eat in some time. Just you wait a minute, exclaimed Uncle Wiggly. He hopped over to the corn crib and opened the door, which was locked. Then he took out some nice yellow ears of corn. What are you going to do with them, asked the rat? There for you, said Uncle Wiggly in his kindest voice. Generally speaking, I don't care for rats in my corn crib, but as these are hard times and as everything one eats costs so much, and as I have lots of corn, why no matter what happens, you may have all the corn you want for your family. Help yourself, you are too kind, said the rat. And he was so surprised at someone being kind to him that he almost turned a somersault over the ear of corn he had taken out of Uncle Wiggly's crib without asking for it. Of course the rat did not know he had done wrong, never having had a chance to go to school when he was little. Now don't forget, said Uncle Wiggly, as he hopped over the green fields of his farm to see how everything was growing. Anytime you want any corn, just help yourself. I guess we farmers are a little too severe with you rats and mice. We forget that even you may be hungry sometimes just as we are. Help yourself to the corn. You are too kind, said the rat. If I were not so hungry now, I would stop to thank you more properly, but believe me, I am very thankful to you. I will take this corn to my hungry wife and little ones. And if I ever get a chance to do you a favor, rest assured I shall do so. Hoping this will find you well, I remain yours truly, Mr. Rat. And he talked, just like a rich man having a stenographer make a letter on the typewriter. Pray, think no more about it, spoke Uncle Wiggly, and have all the corn you want. Then he went on and on over his farm to see how the things were growing. Nurse Jane asked him the next day if he had caught the rats taking the corn out of the crib. Don't worry about that, said the bunny uncle. I am going to let them take the corn. What a queer rabbit he is, said Miss Fuzzy-Wuzzy to herself, very queer indeed. To let rats take his corn. A few days after this, the rabbit gentleman was out in his potato field to see how many weeds there were. When all of a sudden out popped the bad old circus elephant, not the good one, and the elephant as he grabbed Uncle Wiggly cried through his trunk, aha. Now I have caught you, my friend. The blue-nosed baboon asked me to catch you for him and I've done it. Now you come along with me. Oh, I don't want to, said Uncle Wiggly sadly like. But you must, said the elephant. No, he must not. Suddenly cried another voice. You just let Uncle Wiggly alone. Who says so, asked the elephant, saucy-like. I do, answered a bold voice. I am the big corn-eating rat and if you don't let my friend alone. Ha, say no more, cried the elephant through his long, rubbery, rubbery nose of a trunk. I'll be good. And then as the rat ran out at him from under a hill of potatoes, the elephant skipped away so fast that he almost lost one of his trunk straps. For you know, an elephant is almost as much afraid of a mouse or a rat as a lady is. I guess the big animal thinks the little mouse or rat might run up the holes in his trunk as hickory-dickory dock once ran up the clock. So the cornying rat saved Uncle Wiggly from the elephant. You see, which was a big favor. I think the bunny gentleman was very grateful. So this teaches us, we may all do something good in the world. And if the jack in the box doesn't hop out to go to the moving pictures with the rubber ball, I'll tell you next about Uncle Wiggly and the catnip. End of chapter 28. Chapter 29 of Uncle Wiggly on the farm. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Story 29, Uncle Wiggly and the catnip. Well, aren't you up pretty early in the morning? Asked Uncle Wiggly long years, the rabbit gentleman, as he came out of his hollow stump farmhouse one day and saw Kitty Cat, the little kitten girl, standing near the front porch. Oh, I don't know, not so very, she answered, while she curled her tail around in a circle to make a soft seat for the butterfly that was fluttering around the flowers after honey. I'm going on an errand, you see, Uncle Wiggly. An errand exclaimed the old rabbit gentleman. Where to pray tell? Oh, just over to where Petey and Jackie Bow Wow, the little puppy dogs live, answered Kitty. I want to get some of their dog biscuits. Mother didn't have time to make any bread today, so she thought Mrs. Bow Wow might lend her some biscuits. They're nearly as good. Every bit, I should say, spoke Uncle Wiggly, only if Kitty Cats eat dog biscuit. Won't there be trouble? Trouble? How? asked Kitty, surprised like. I mean, won't the dog biscuits growl and bark at the cats? Oh, how funny you are, laughed Kitty, making her eyes go sideways like an automobile in a slippery street. Of course, puppy cakes or even dog biscuits can't bark. Well, if a tree can have a bark, why can't a dog biscuit asked Uncle Wiggly joking like? Well, they don't, said Kitty, and then laughing to herself at funny Uncle Wiggly, she started on across the fields of the bunny Uncle's farm towards the place where Jackie and Petey Bow Wow lived in their kennel house. Wait a minute, I'm coming with you, Kitty, said Uncle Wiggly. I have to go look and see that my onion bed has plenty of covers on so that the pansy flowers won't catch cold. So Mr. Long Years went with Kitty Cat across the fields of his farm. They had not gone very far before the little kitten girl began to sniff and snuff the air and a sort of happy look came over her face, just as it does on yours when you see a lollipop or an ice cream cone. What's the matter, Kitty, asked Uncle Wiggly as she began to hop, skip, and jump across the green grass. Oh, isn't it just too nice for anything, Miao Kitty? Isn't it lovely? Oh, how good it smells and how good it will taste. What, asked the bunny gentleman, your supper? No, I'm talking about catnip. Kitty answered, see here is some growing in the fence corner of your farm. May I have a few leaves? Oh, of course you may. All you want, spoke Uncle Wiggly, but what is catnip? To me it looks like a weed and if it is, I'll have to pull it up. Oh, don't do that, big Kitty, at least not until I get some to take home to my mother, Tommy and Joey. We kittens all just love catnip. It's as nice to us as carrots or lettuce leaves are to you rabbits, Uncle Wiggly. Oh, I must have a bit. So Kitty Cat took some of the green catnip leaves and chewed them. She rubbed her head against them and she wanted to turn a somersault right into a bunch of catnip, but she remembered that she was getting to be quite a large cat girl now and turning somersaults is only for little girls or tomboy ones. But anyhow, Kitty had a nice time with the catnip and she went on to the Bow Wow house while Uncle Wiggly skipped over to the onion and pansy beds. Queer things certainly do grow on my farm, thought the rabbit gentleman. Fancy now, catnip. First I know, peppermint drops and chocolate creams will be springing up, but he was glad Kitty Cat was made happy by the catnip, which all kittens seem to love more than they do candy. And Uncle Wiggly picked and took with him some of the soft green leaves. I'll show them to Nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, he said. Maybe she could make a pudding sauce of them. Well, Uncle Wiggly was walking along over his farm seeing how nicely the things are growing and he was carrying the catnip in his paw when all of a sudden out from behind a bush, something jumped and a voice cried. Ah-ha, now I have him. At last I have caught him just where I can carry him off to my den, ah-ha. And there was the bad old ear scratching cat again. But just as Uncle Wiggly thought the cat was going to jump on him and maybe claw him as well as scratch his ears, the cat just turned as kind and gentle as could be. She meowed very softly and rubbed against Uncle Wiggly purring so nicely and then she began nibbling at the catnip the bunny gentleman had in his paw. All at once he understood. This bad ear scratching cat likes catnip as much as kitty does, said Uncle Wiggly. I'll just leave a bit here for her to roll about in and I can run safely home. And that's what he did. As soon as the bit of catnip was on the ground the bad cat who was made good all of a sudden began to tumble all over it and she liked the green leaves so much that she never even noticed the bunny. So Mr. Long Ears got home safely which shows you that catnip is good for something else than making tea for babies. That night for the first time in a long while the ear scratching cat didn't yowl and keep everybody awake. She went to sleep after eating the catnip and she forgot all about the rabbit gentleman. And if the stone lid doesn't shut down so tightly that the coffee pot can't find a place to hide when the tea strainer chases it off the timetable I'll tell you next about Uncle Wiggly and the baked potatoes end of chapter 29. Chapter 30 of Uncle Wiggly on the Farm by Howard Argeras. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Story 30, Uncle Wiggly and the Baked Potatoes. Oh, Uncle Wiggly, will you come? Asked Sammy Little Tail the rabbit boy one day as he stood first on one paw and then on the other in front of the hollow stump farmhouse where Mr. Long Ears the rabbit gentleman made his home. Please come, beg Sammy, and bring peanuts called Billy Bushetail, the boy's squirrel. No matches put in his brother Johnny frisking his nose sideways. Bring matches. Potatoes would be better, spoke Billy Wagtail the goat boy. We already have the matches and peanuts, but of course we need Uncle Wiggly to see that the fire doesn't get so hot that it burns us. Well, well, what's all this about? Asked the bunny gentleman as he came down off the front stoop and looked up at the sky to see if any clouds are going to fall on his tall silk hat. What's going on? he asked. We boys are going to build a fire out in the woods after supper, answered Sammy, and we thought maybe if your rheumatism didn't hurt you too much and if you didn't have to do any farm chores that you'd come with us and maybe have an adventure, cried Billy the squirrel boy, sort of excited like as he interrupted Sammy. That I will and right gladly said Uncle Wiggly, when is the fire going to be made and where? Right after supper, said the goat chap, and the place is in the woods near the hollow stump school. Don't make it too near, said Uncle Wiggly, if the school should catch fire and burn down, you would have no place to go to say your lessons to the nice lady mouse teacher. And I guess you'd feel badly about that. We'd feel badly for the teacher, said the rabbit boy with a laugh, but as for the school, well, worst things might happen. Oh, you mustn't talk that way, Uncle Wiggly said, but well, never mind. And he had to turn his pink nose away because it twinkled so it made him want to laugh. Well, don't forget called Jackie Bow Wow, the puppy dog boy who was with the other animal chaps. Be in yonder wood as the moon rises and we shall see. The roast potatoes, cried Jackie's brother, just like a photograph speaking in a moving picture show. All right, I'll be there, Uncle Wiggly promised. Then he went back in the house to read the paper. After supper, thinking what a good time he would have with the animal boys, playing around a fire out in the woods, the rabbit gentleman went down to the cellar. Where in the world are you going? Asked Nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, the muskrat lady housekeeper as she finished drying the supper dishes. After some potatoes, answered Uncle Wiggly, his voice climbing up the cellar stairs. How silly, exclaimed Nurse Jane, I don't need any until lunchtime tomorrow. I was getting them for myself, not for lunch. Said Uncle Wiggly, sort of shy, like, and bashful. I'm going off in the woods with the animal boys to have sort of a picnic bonfire and we're going to roast potatoes and stuff and nonsense, exclaimed Nurse Jane. Will you never grow up, Uncle Wiggly and act like other rabbit men? Of course you're nice and all that, but you are getting too old for such silly things. One can never get too old to have a good time, spoke the bunny uncle. If you don't mind, Nurse Jane, I'll get the potatoes to roast. Well, I never did see anything like him in all my born days, said the muskrat lady, as the bunny went down the cellar. Still, she knew that Uncle Wiggly often did queer things, so she did not think so much about it as you or I might have thought. A little later, the bunny uncle started out to have some fun. Off towards the woods, he went carrying an empty milk bottle with lightning bugs in it for a lantern, as it was quite dark. It did not take Uncle Wiggly long to get to the place in the woods where the animal boys were. They had gathered a pile of chips to make a fire and Sammy, the rabbit, had brought the matches. While Nettie stubbed tail, the bear boy, carried some peanuts. Uncle Wiggly had the potatoes, of course. Now for some fun, he cried as he lighted the fire. And when it was burning nicely with plenty of red-hot coals or embers, the bunny gentleman put in the potatoes. When they are roasted, he'll sprinkle salt on them and eat them, he said. And all the animal boys declared that this was the most jolly time they had ever known. Soon some of the potatoes were roasted or baked in the fire, and Uncle Wiggly, poking them out with a stick so as not to burn his paws, said. Now boys, eat all you like, but not too much. This is real jolly, but at the same time, I wish an adventure would happen to me. Perhaps one will, said Sammy, hopeful like. I hardly think so, spoke the rabbit gentleman. It is now getting rather late and will soon be time for us to go home. There are no adventures here, I fear. But if, and just then, all at once, before you could jump over a lollipop stick, that is supposing that you wanted to do that. A voice cried out, oh, how cold I am. How I shiver, I'm afraid I'll never be warm again and I have so far to go before I get home, oh dear. Ha, that sounds like trouble, Uncle Wiggly said, and his eyes twinkled as did also his pink nose. For if there was one thing the bunny uncle liked more than another, it was to help those in trouble. What's the matter, asked the bunny? Who are you? I am the hand organ monkey, was the answer. I am on my way home in my automobile after having played the organ and taken in pennies all day. But it is so cold that I cannot hold the steering wheel. And if I don't hold it and steer right, I'll run into a lamp post or something like that and hurt myself or somebody. Oh, how cold my paws are, brrr. And the monkey shivered like a drumstick playing a tattoo, rub-a-dub time. It was quite cold that night, but Uncle Wiggly and the animal boys, being so near the fire, did not notice it. We might let the hand organ monkey take our bonfire and get warm, said Sammy, speaking kindly. No, it would only burn his auto, spoke Uncle Wiggly. One moment, I have it. I'll let him take some of the hot baked potatoes. He can tie them on the steering wheel of his automobile and they will keep his paws nice and warm. Oh, fine, chattered the monkey, his teeth jingling in the cold. They will be the best ever. So Uncle Wiggly poked some more hot potatoes out of the fire and fastened them to the monkey's automobile. Then the hand organ chap could steer himself home and his paws were as warm as the red cheeks of the wax doll, then which there is nothing more warm. So the monkey was able to get home without freezing and when he did get there, he ate the baked potatoes, which shows you that some things are good for doing two tricks. And Uncle Wiggly and the animal boys had a fine time. So if the chewing gum doesn't stay out after dark and get stuck on the letter box, so it can't go to the moving pictures with the ice cream cone, I'll tell you next about Uncle Wiggly and the Spiced Pears. End of chapter 30. Chapter 31 of Uncle Wiggly on the Farm by Howard R. Garris. This labor box recording is in the public domain. Story 31, Uncle Wiggly and the Spiced Pears. Well, this is going to be my busy day, said Nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy Muscat Ladyhousekeeper for Uncle Wiggly long years as she came into the dining room from the kitchen of the hollow stump farmhouse one morning. My dear Nurse Jane, said the bunny uncle with a polite bow, all your days seem to be busy ones. I suppose you mean to say something nice, went on Nurse Jane, but as a matter of fact, as they say when they are telling a fairy story, I am going to be especially busy today. What doing, asked Uncle Wiggly, are you going to iron the clothes or dust the piano? Neither one answered Nurse Jane, I am going to make some spiced pears. And I was wondering if you would not help me. Right gladly, will I do so, said the rabbit gentleman. But I don't understand the first thing in the world about spiced pears, except perhaps how to eat them or how to grow them on my farm. That is something anyhow, the Muscat Lady said, but before you can eat spiced pears, they must first be made. Now I know how to make them. I will take some of the pears that grow on the trees in your orchard, peel off the skins, boil the pears and sugar, spice and other things nice and put them in cans. Then they'll be ready to eat. Very good Janey, said Uncle Wiggly friendly like, but what do you want me to do? Get me the spices if you please, answered the Muscat Lady. I need some cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and mace. All those will make the pears so much nicer. And as I shall be very busy peeling them, I will hardly have time to go to the store and get. Oh, I'll get the spices for you, quickly offered the bunny uncle. It will be a great pleasure for me. I don't like to trouble you, said Nurse Jane. No trouble at all after bunny uncle. I may have an adventure and that will be fun. Here we go, whoop, and he went. Leaning on his red, white and blue hermitism crutch that was colored like a barber pole. Nurse Jane, who had gnawed the crutch out of a corn stalk, shook her tail. That Uncle Wiggly rabbit will never grow up, never, she said, he'll always be like that, boyish. Well, maybe it is better so. I only hope he doesn't stop to play marbles with the nutmegs and sprinkle the cinnamon on somebody's hot crust buns, for I need the spices for the pears. On and on went Uncle Wiggly, the nice rabbit gentleman, over the fields and through the woods to the spice store. There he bought the cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, mace, and other things that Nurse Jane needed. He put them wrapped in paper into his pocket. Oh, but those spiced pears will be nice, he said to himself as he hopped on towards his hollow stump farmhouse. He had not gone very far before he met Mr. Whitewash, the polar bear gentleman. Good morning, Mr. Whitewash, said Uncle Wiggly. I hope I see you well today. Very well, answered the white bear, and you never better, laughed Uncle Wiggly. Let's walk on together, and maybe we shall find an adventure. Fine, cried Mr. Whitewash, as he went on through the woods with Uncle Wiggly. They had not gone very far before they met grandfather Goosey Gander, the goose gentleman. Oh, but I am glad to see you, Grandpa Goosey Gander quacked. I was feeling lonesome and wondering where all my friends were. Come along with us and be happy, invited Uncle Wiggly. Yes, do, added Mr. Whitewash. We may all have an adventure together. All right, I will, said Grandpa Goosey, and he did. The three friends had not gone far before they met Uncle Butter, the goat gentleman. Well, this is a pleasure, he bleated. I did not expect to meet so many of my friends today. Come, I will treat you to some hot baked ice cream cones, as it is quite cool. So the four friends started for the ice cream cone store, but just as they were going down a little hill that led to it, all of a sudden Uncle Wiggly's hind paws slipped and he fell down. And he accidentally knocked down Grandpa Goosey and Grandpa Goosey, not meaning to do so, toppled over Uncle Butter. And Uncle Butter butted into Mr. Whitewash, the polar bear gentleman, and all four went down in a heap. And then all of a sudden they all began to sneeze. Accorchew, curr snitzio, sneezed Uncle Wiggly. Curfosalum, gitzio, sneezed Uncle Butter. Washcoe, agi, posasium, sneezed Mr. Whitewash. Itchy, slambo, mercusio, gush, sneezed Grandpa Goosey. Oh, this is dreadful, went on the white bear gentleman holding his nose in his handkerchief. I should say so, spoke Uncle Butter backwards. We must be catching dreadful colds. Accorchew, and nurse Jane told me to be sure and keep out the drafts, added Uncle Wiggly sniffling and snuffling. Oh dear, this is quite too bad. Accorchizium, and he sneezed again. What have we better do? Ask Grandpa Goosey, speaking through his yellow nose bill. I never got gold as Wiggly as this before. We had better go see a doctor I dinked, said Mr. Whitewash, also speaking through his nose. If we let this cold go, I only wish I could let by go, Uncle Wiggly said. Speaking of doctors, here comes Wadow, cried Grandpa Goosey. I say, Dr. Possum, he called. Gum and bake are gold's better. Up came the animal doctor, but no sooner had he gotten near the animal gentleman than he too began sneezing. Awoo, whoop, Zizo, he sneezed. Why even Dr. Possum is catching gold, cried Uncle Wiggly. There must be something very funny around here. There is, said Dr. Possum, sniffling the air and looking at the rabbit gentleman. Where did all those spices come from? And he pointed to a broken paper on the ground near where the bunny gentleman had fallen down. Why, why, they came out of my pocket, said Uncle Wiggly. I got them for their Jane to bake spiced pears. And instead they made spiced sneezes, laughed Dr. Possum. I see how it happened. When you fell down the nutmeg, the cloves, the cinnamon, and mace, scattered all about in the air, the fine spiced dust got up your noses and you just had to sneeze. I had to myself. I could cheese use it. Ha, that is too bad. But we will soon stop it, said Uncle Wiggly. Then he gathered up the spices and put them back in the paper in his pocket. And nobody sneezed again or talked through their noses except Nurse Jane when she made the spiced pears. But she was used to that, so she did not mind. And so neither Uncle Wiggly nor any of his friends had coals. I'm glad to say and if the loaf of bread doesn't turn into a cake and try to get into the ragdoll's birthday party without a ticket, I'll tell you next about Uncle Wiggly and the Little Pond. And to chapter 31. Chapter 32 of Uncle Wiggly on the Farm by Howard Argeris. This labor box recording is in the public domain. Story 32, Uncle Wiggly and the Little Pond. Uncle Wiggly Longhears, the bunny rabbit gentleman, was hopping along through Woodland near the Orange Ice Mountains, not far from Osbury Grove, where he had built his hollow stump bungalow. Mr. Longhears was looking first on one side of the path and then on the other with his pink twinkling nose. I mean Uncle Wiggly had his pink nose with him. I don't mean he was looking with it. Gracious, no, he looked with his eyes. Hello, Uncle Wiggly, are you looking for an adventure? Asked Johnny Bushetail, the squirrel boy, as he scampered up a hickory tree to see if any nuts were growing yet. But it was too early. No, I'm not exactly looking for an adventure, spoke the bunny gentleman. I want to find Baby Bunty, the little rabbit girl who used to live in a hollow stump. Do you want her to chase you and play tag, asked Johnny? Indeed I do not, cried Uncle Wiggly. Baby Bunty is too lively for me. She says, she makes me chase her so I won't get old and stiff. But it's fun to be sort of restful like once in a while. Now I'm looking for Baby Bunty because Nurse Jane wants her to come and have her paws and face washed for supper. Have you seen her? Do you mean Nurse Jane or Baby Bunty? Asked the squirrel boy, sort of joking like and comical. Baby Bunty, of course, answered Uncle Wiggly. I know where Nurse Jane is. She's baking a strawberry longcake in my hollow stump bungalow. But if you haven't seen Baby Bunty, I must hop along and look in other places. So Uncle Wiggly hopped along and pretty soon he came to the shore of a large pond. On one bank of the pond were growing a number of tall plants with thick green leaves. Ha, those are nice plants, said Uncle Wiggly. Perhaps they may have seen Baby Bunty pass this way. So understanding the language of flowers, which is about the same as that which is talked by the leaves and the vines, Uncle Wiggly asked the green plants if they had seen the little rabbit girl. No answered one large plant, we haven't seen Baby Bunty. We have been so busy trying to shake off a lot of bad red biting bugs on our stalks and leaves that we haven't had a chance to look for anyone. We wish we could drive the bugs away. I can do that, kindly offered Uncle Wiggly. I will drive away the red bugs that are biting your thick green glossy leaves. I'll knock them off with my red, white and blue striped rheumatism crutch. Please do beg the plants, growing on the edge of the big pond. So Uncle Wiggly drove away the biting bugs by tapping on the green thick-leaved plants with his crutch. And the plants thank the rabbit gentlemen very much. If we can ever do you or any of your friends a favor, we shall be glad to, they said. Uncle Wiggly hardly thought a plant could ever do you a favor, but just you wait and see. On and on through the woods hopped the rabbit gentlemen until pretty soon he came to a cute little shady dingley dell and there was Baby Bunty lying on the grass fast asleep. In one paw was her wooden doll, Sarah Jane Sassafras rice pudding. Oh Bunty wake up, cried Uncle Wiggly nurse Jane wants you to come home. It's nearly supper time. Baby Bunty awakened with a start, rubbed her eyes and then holding her doll, Matilda Arabella flap doodle in one paw, the little rabbit girl took hold of Uncle Wiggly's coat tail and back to the hollow stump bungalow they started. They had not gone very far and they were hopping towards the big pond of water when all of a sudden out from behind a stump popped the bad old Scuttle Magoon. Oh ho now I have you, cried the Scuttle Magoon. Uncle Wiggly and Baby Bunty ran as fast as they could. So did the Scuttle Magoon. Pretty soon Uncle Wiggly and Baby Bunty came to the big pond. Oh if only this pond were little now, sighed Uncle Wiggly, we could jump across it. What good would that do, asked Baby Bunty? Why, once on the other side, we would be safe from the Scuttle Magoon, answered Uncle Wiggly. The policeman dog lives on the other side of this pond. But as it is now, it is too big for us to jump across and if we have to run all the way around it, the bad chap may catch us. And then just as true as I'm telling you, all of a sudden the big pond began to shrink up. It shut its banks close together and became so little that Uncle Wiggly and Baby Bunty could easily jump across without getting wet. All the way across the pond they jumped and when they were safe on the other side, the little pond suddenly stretched into a big one again and it was so large that the Scuttle Magoon couldn't jump over. Oh, we're safe, Uncle Wiggly, cried Bunty, we're safe. But what made the big pond get little and then grow again? I don't know, answered Mr. Long Ears. Then some voices spoke, we made the big pond get little for you, said the green stalks and leaves on the bank, we shrank and also stretched the pond for you. We are rubber plants, you know, and rubber can stretch and shrink. That's just how it happened. Weren't those stretchy rubber plants good to Baby Bunty and Mr. Long Ears? And if the Bluebell Flower doesn't ring so late in the morning that the alarm clock gets late for school and can't have any sawdust candy for recess, I'll tell you next about Uncle Wiggly and the funny stump end of chapter 32. Chapter 33 of Uncle Wiggly on the Farm by Howard Argyris. The Sleeper Box recording is in the public domain. Story 33, Uncle Wiggly and the Funny Stump. Goodbye, Uncle Wiggly, goodbye, called Baby Bunty to Mr. Long Ears, the rabbit gentleman one morning as he stood on the front porch of this hollow stump bungalow. What's that, goodbye? Why, you aren't going to leave me, are you? asked Uncle Wiggly. Are you going to leave me after I found you in the woods and took care of you and all that? Oh, but you say I make you chase me and play tag and that I won't let you sit around and get stiff and old and all the like of that. I better go away. And really it looked as though Baby Bunty were going away for she had a little bundle in one paw. Oh, don't go away, big Uncle Wiggly. I don't mind chasing you and I was only fooling about you making me get old and stiff and I was only fooling about going away, laughed Baby Bunty. I'm only going to take my painting lesson from Mother Nature. She knows how to color the flowers red, blue and golden and she is giving me painting lessons. My paints are in this bundle. When I finish learning how to make a blue sky turn pink, I'll come back to you. Please do, cried Uncle Wiggly, I shall miss you. Then in an hour or so, if you walk through the woods, you may meet me coming home from my painting lesson. Spoke Bunty. I will, promised Uncle Wiggly. Then Baby Bunty hopped on with her box of colors and Mr. Long Ears went to see grandfather Goosey Gander. What do you suppose Baby Bunty can paint? Ask Grandpa Goosey when Uncle Wiggly had told about the little rabbit girl learning how to make a green leaf look red. I don't know what she can paint, but she is a smart little thing, said Mr. Long Ears. It would be hard to find her equal if you hopped or waddled for one whole day and part of another. I believe you, quacked Grandpa Goosey Gander. Pretty soon it was time for Uncle Wiggly to start hopping along the woodland path to meet Baby Bunty. For soon, she would be leaving Mother Nature's studio where the little rabbit girl took her lessons. I must get Baby Bunty to give my red, white and blue striped barber pole rheumatism crutch a new coat of paint, thought Uncle Wiggly, as he hopped along. And I wondered just where I shall meet her. All of a sudden, he heard a joyful sound. Hi there, Uncle Wiggly. Here I am, whoop-de-doodle-woodle. And a long hopped Baby Bunty. There was a smudge of red paint on one ear, a dab of blue paint on her left paw and a dribble of yellow paint on her hair ribbon. I've been having my painting lessons, she said to Uncle Wiggly. I see you have, he agreed with a laugh. Well, we'll hop home now and see what Nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy has for supper. Uncle Wiggly and Baby Bunty were hopping along when all of a sudden, out from under a pile of dried grass, jumped the bad old Magusillum. The Magusillum is worse than either the Pipsisawa or the Scuttle Magoon. Ah-ha, I'm in luck today, cried the Magusillum. A rabid gentleman and a rabid girl. Let me see, who's house shall I eat first? I guess I'll take yours, Uncle Wiggly. With that, the Magusillum let go of Baby Bunty while knowing she would not run away without Uncle Wiggly. Then the Magusillum began looking at the rabid gentleman's ears to see where the best place would be to begin eating souse. For that is what souse is, pickled ears of nice rabbits. Well, I'll take some left ear souse first, said the Magusillum. And he was just starting to do this and Uncle Wiggly didn't know what to do. The rabid gentleman saw Baby Bunty open her paint box. That will not help any, sadly thought Uncle Wiggly. The only thing that will drive away a Magusillum is pineapple cheese and Baby Bunty has none of that. Then the bad animal stood in front of Uncle Wiggly, picking out a good place to begin nibbling the souse. So Mr. Longhears couldn't see what Bunty was doing with the paint box. All he could see was that she was near a funny old gnarled and fire blackened stump. But all of a sudden Baby Bunty cried, look out now, you bad old Magusillum. Look out or my friend, the snippy snappy will get you. And as true as I'm telling you, there stood what seemed to be a little short, squatty animal with a big red mouth, a green nose, one yellow eye and one pink eye, one brown cheek and one purple one and his teeth. Oh, his teeth were all sorts of colors, some even being Scaliga mink shade. Oh wow, oh, this is terrible howled the bad Magusillum. Don't let that snippy snappy get me. I won't hurt you Uncle Wiggly. And away ran the bad chap, not hurting Mr. Longhears nor Bunty at all. But won't the snippy snappy get my sauce? asked Mr. Longhears when he saw that the unpleasant creature was gone. Aren't we in danger from the snippy snappy? Of course not, Laugh Bunty. I just made the snippy snappy on the outside of the funny old stump with my colored paints. I painted the snippy snappy Uncle Wiggly to scare the Magusillum. And right well you scared him, spoke the bunny, you surely are learning to paint Bunty. And if the safety pin doesn't slide off the cushion and try to sprinkle soap suds in the eye of the needle, I'll tell you next about Uncle Wiggly and the Queer Log. End of Chapter 33. Chapter 34 of Uncle Wiggly on the Farm by Howard R. Garris. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Story 34, Uncle Wiggly and the Queer Log. Where's Uncle Wiggly? Where's Uncle Wiggly? Asked Baby Bunty, the little rabbit girl of Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy, one morning. Where is he? Why Uncle Wiggly has gone to the store for me, answered the Muscat Lady housekeeper of the Hollow Stump Bungalow. He has gone to get me some molasses. Oh dear, sighed Baby Bunty, the little rabbit girl who had been found in a Hollow Stump. Why, whatever is the matter? Asked Nurse Jane, who had a dab of flour on her nose. And whenever the Muscat Lady had a dab of flour on her nose, you could be sure that she was making a pie. Don't you like molasses, Cake Bunty? Miss Fuzzy was the asked. Oh yes, have you any? Baby Bunty wanted to know. I'll make one as soon as Uncle Wiggly comes back with the jug of molasses, went on Nurse Jane. But why did you say, oh dear, in such a doleful voice? Because I wished Uncle Wiggly were here to chase me or play tag or something. I'm so afraid he'll get old and stiff. Well, why don't you hop off in the woods and meet him? Asked Nurse Jane of the lively little rabbit girl. Baby Bunty could hardly ever keep still. If you go meet him, you'll see him hopping along with the molasses jug, went on the Muscat Lady, and then he'll chase you or play tag or let you help him carry the sweet stuff I'm going to put in a cake. I'll do that, said Baby Bunty, in a way she hopped with her rubber doll named Beatrice Ethelmore Lemon Squeezer. As she was hopping through the woods to meet Uncle Wiggly, all of a sudden, Baby Bunty heard, near a little spring of water, a sad voice crying. Oh, I'm so wet. Oh, if someone would only help me out of the water. Someone is drowning, said Baby Bunty. I wonder if I could save them. On a bed of soft green moss, she put her waxed doll, Sarah Ann Belinda Washbasin, and hurried to the side of the little spring. There, Baby Bunty saw a poor honeybee splashing in the water. I'll save you, kindly said the little rabbit girl, when with a long stick she fished the half-drowned bee out of the pool and placed him on a leaf in the sun where his wings could dry. Thank you for saving me, Buzz the Bee, when he had shaken off some of the water. I shall be glad to do you a favor, if I may. Do you want me to make you some honey? Oh, thank you, no, not now, answered Baby Bunty. Uncle Wiggly is bringing home the molasses jug, but some other time we may want your honey. Anytime you do, I'll give you some Buzz the Bee. Then he flew away to look for more honeyflowers. Baby Bunty was glad she had saved the bee, which a big dragonfly had knocked into the spring of water. On and on through the woods hopped Baby Bunty, and pretty soon she saw Uncle Wiggly coming towards her with the molasses jug on his paw. Oh, Uncle Wiggly, cried the little rabbit girl, I'm so glad I met you. Now I'll help you carry the molasses jug, and when we get home you'll chase me and play tag, won't you? Oh, yes, I guess so, answered Mr. Longhears. It will keep you from getting old and stiff, you know, said Baby Bunty, sweetly, as she took hold of one side of the molasses jug. She and Uncle Wiggly hopped on, but all of a sudden out from behind a bush jumped the bad old fox. Ho, ho, cried the fox, this time I have you. He made a grab for Uncle Wiggly and Bunty, but they were too quick for him. Run, Bunty, run, cried Mr. Longhears, and he ran and hopped, and so did Bunty, and they got away from the fox, but alas, they dropped the molasses jug, and they didn't dare stop to pick it up or go back after it. Oh, dear, what shall I do, sighed Uncle Wiggly? I have lost the molasses and jug, and Nurse Jane will be so disappointed. Oh, dear, and he sat down on a queer log that had a hole in each end and warts like a toad, all over it. It is too bad, said Baby Bunty. What is too bad, asked a gentle little voice, and out of one end of the queer log flew the very same honeybee that Baby Bunty had saved from the spring. What is too bad, asked the bee. The fox chased us, and I lost the molasses jug, said Uncle Wiggly. Oh, ho, don't let that worry you, buzz the bee. Inside this queer log, I and many other bees have a lot of flower honey. It is as sweet as molasses, and I'll give you all you want. Here, make a box of some white birch bark from this tree and take Nurse Jane a lot of our honey. Oh, that will be just fine, cried Uncle Wiggly. Nurse Jane can make honey cakes, and the Muscat Lady did. So you see, losing the molasses jug didn't so much matter after all, and if the man in the moon doesn't want to come and live in our house and make the ladybug move into the garage, I'll tell you next about, but there, I'm forgetting. There is no room in this book for any more stories, as you can easily see for yourself without me telling you. It will not hold another one. So I'll have to make up another book, and in it, I will tell you a lot more funny things the rabbi gentleman did and the adventures he had, and I will call it Uncle Wiggly's Travels. Be sure to watch for it, the end. End of Chapter 34, End of Uncle Wiggly on the Farm by Howard Argaris.