UNCLE WIGGILY AND THE TAILOR BIRD
After Uncle Wiggily and the pussy had helped the robin get the cowbird's
eggs out of her nest, as I told you in the story before this, the rabbit
and the kittie stayed in the woods a little while talking to the mamma
bird.
"I should like to see the little robins hatch out of the eggs," said the
pussy, as she frisked her tail about and smoothed out her fur.
"So should I," added Uncle Wiggily.
"I will gladly let you see my little birdies hatch," spoke the robin, "but
it will take nearly a week yet, and you will have to wait."
"Oh, I can't wait as long as that," went on the rabbit. "I must be off to
seek my fortune."
"Yes, and I must go and find my clothespin house," said the pussy.
So they said good-by to the mamma robin, and away the pussy and Uncle
Wiggily went, over the hills and down the dales through the woods and over
little brooks.
Pretty soon they came to a place in the woods where there were a whole
lot of flowers nodding their heads in the wind, and it was such a pretty
place that Uncle Wiggily and the pussy stayed there a little while. And in
about a minute they heard something flying through the bushes and out flew
that same cowbird, and she laughed just as hard as she could laugh, as she
passed along.
"Somebody is going to be surprised!" cried the cowbird and she fluttered
her wings at the rabbit and the kittie, and then she hid herself off in
the woods.
"I wonder what she means?" asked the pussy.
"I'm sure I don't know," replied the rabbit. "But did you notice that she
didn't have her eggs with her?"
"Sure enough!" exclaimed the pussy. "She must have left them in some other
bird's nest."
"Well, we had better keep on, for it is getting late," spoke Uncle
Wiggily, "and I want to find your clothespin house for you."
On they hurried through the trees, and pretty soon--Oh, I guess about as
long as it takes you to eat a stick of peppermint candy--they suddenly
came to the pussy's clothespin house.
"Oh, here's where I live!" she cried. "How glad I am to get back home!"
She hurried in through the front door and no sooner was she inside than
she cried out:
"Come here! Come here, quickly, Uncle Wiggily! Did you ever see such a
sight in all your born days?"
"What is it?" asked the rabbit, as he hopped in, and he was half afraid
that there might be a burglar fox hiding in the pussy's house.
But it wasn't anything like that. Instead the rabbit saw the pussy
pointing to her bed, and there, right in the middle of the feather
pillows, were some eggs.
"The cowbird's eggs!" cried the kittie. "That's what she meant when she
said some one was going to be surprised. Indeed, I am the one who is
surprised. She brought her eggs here, thinking I would hatch them out for
her, but I'll not do it!"
So the pussy threw the eggs out of the window, on some soft straw, where
they wouldn't be broken, and pretty soon that cowbird came back, as angry
as a lion without any tail. And she grabbed up her eggs, and this time she
took them to the monkey, who played five hand-organs at once. And the
monkey was a good-natured sort of a chap, so he hatched out the cowbird's
eggs for her, and soon he had a lot of little calfbirds, and when they
grew up they gave him no end of trouble.
"Well, now you are safe home," said Uncle Wiggily to the pussy, "I will
travel on."
"First, let me fill your valise with something to eat," said the kittie
cat, and she did so, and then the rabbit hopped on. He looked all over for
his fortune, but he couldn't find it, and pretty soon it got dark night
and he went to sleep in a hollow stump.
"Surely, I will find my fortune to-day," thought Uncle Wiggily, as he
arose the next morning, and combed out his whiskers. It was a bright,
beautiful sunshiny morning, and everything was cheerful, and the birds
were singing. But, in spite of all that, something happened to the rabbit.
He was just going past a berry bush, and he was reaching up to pick off
some of the red raspberries, when all at once a sharp claw was thrust out
from the bush and a grab was made for the rabbit.
"Now, I've got you!" cried a savage voice.
"No, you haven't!" exclaimed Uncle Wiggily, and he jumped back just as a
savage wolf sprang out at him.
"Oh, don't worry, I'll get you yet!" went on the wolf and he made another
spring. But the rabbit was ready for him and ran down the hill and the
wolf ran after him, howling at the top of his grillery-growlery voice,
for he was very hungry.
My! how Uncle Wiggily did run. And the wolf ran also, and he was catching
up to the rabbit, and probably would have eaten him all up, but just then
a kind bumble bee who knew Uncle Wiggily flew off a tree branch and stung
that wolf on the end of his nose.
That wolf gave a howl, and made one more grab for Uncle Wiggily, but he
only managed to catch hold of his coat tails in his teeth, and there the
wolf held on.
"Let go of Uncle Wiggily!" buzzed the bee.
"No I won't!" cried the wolf, most impolite-like.
"Then I'll sting you again!" cried the bee, and she did so, and the rabbit
gave a great pull, and he managed to pull himself away from the wolf. But,
alas! Uncle Wiggily's nice red coat was all tattered and torn.
"Oh, whatever shall I do?" cried Uncle Wiggily as the wolf ran away down
the hill and the rabbit looked at the torn and ripped coat. "I never can
go on seeking my fortune with a torn coat."
"I am sorry," said the bee, "but I can not help you. But if you see the
tailor bird she may mend your coat for you."
So the bee buzzed away and Uncle Wiggily went on looking for the tailor
bird. This is a bird that makes a nest by sewing leaves together with
grass for thread. And would you believe me, in a little while Uncle
Wiggily saw the very bird he wanted.
She was making a nest with her bill for a needle and some dried grass for
thread, and she was sewing the leaves together.
"Will you kindly mend my coat for me where the wolf tore it?" asked the
rabbit politely.
"Indeed I will," said the tailor bird. So she took some long, strong
pieces of grass for thread. Then she made her sharp bill go back and forth
in the cloth of Uncle Wiggily's coat and soon it was all mended again as
good as new. Then the rabbit thanked the bird and started off again to
seek his fortune and you could hardly see where his coat was torn.
Then Uncle Wiggily was very thankful to the tailor bird, and he stayed at
her house for some time, helping her sweep the sidewalk mornings, and
bringing up coal, and all things like that. And the old gentleman had some
more adventures.
But as I have already made this book quite long, I think I will have to
save the rest of the stories for another one. I'll get it ready as soon
as I can for you, and the name of it is going to be "Uncle Wiggily's
Fortune."
Just think of that! He really does find his fortune in that book, though
he has quite some trouble, let me tell you. But bless your hearts! Trouble
is only another kind of fun!
So now we will say good-by to Uncle Wiggily for a time, and soon you may
hear more about him. Good-by and good luck to all of you.
THE END
* * * * *
Uncle Wiggily Picture Books
Three stories in
each book
By
Howard R. Garis
[Illustration:
UNCLE WIGGILY'S
SNOW PUDDING]
Also twenty-seven
color pictures
By
Lang Campbell
In these funny little books you can see in bright colored pictures the
adventures of myself and my woodland friends. Also the pictures of some
bad fellows, whose names you know.
So if the spoon holder doesn't go down cellar and take the coal shovel
away from the gas stove, you may read
No. 1. UNCLE WIGGILY'S AUTO SLED
If the rocking chair doesn't tickle the rag carpet and make the brass bed
fall upstairs, you may read
No. 2. UNCLE WIGGILY'S SNOW MAN
If the umbrella doesn't go out in the rain and splash water all over the
rubber boots on the gold fish, you may read
No. 3. UNCLE WIGGILY'S HOLIDAYS
If the electric light doesn't cry for some molasses, when the match leaves
it all alone in the china closet, you may read
No. 4. UNCLE WIGGILY'S APPLE ROAST
If the egg beater doesn't try to jump over the coffee pot and fall in the
sink when the potato is learning to swim, you may read
No. 5. UNCLE WIGGILY'S PICNIC
If the sugar cookie doesn't go out walking with the fountain pen, and get
all black so it looks like a chocolate cake, you may read
No. 6. UNCLE WIGGILY GOES FISHING
Hurry up and get these nice little books from the bookstore man, or send
direct to the publishers, 50 cents per copy, postpaid.
CHARLES E. GRAHAM & CO.
NEW YORK
[Illustration: Uncle Wiggily]
Burt's Series of One Syllable Books
14 Titles. Handsome Illuminated Cloth Binding
A series of Classics, selected specially for young people's reading, and
told in simple language for youngest readers. Printed from large type,
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AESOP'S FABLES
Retold in words of one syllable for young people. By MARY GODOLPHIN.
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A Series of Stories, told by animals, to AUNT AMY PRENTICE.
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12 titles, in handsome cloth binding.
* * * * *
Price 75 cents. Net----
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Bunny Rabbit's Story, 30 Illustrations
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Gray Goose's Story, 32 Illustrations
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Handsome Cloth Binding, PRICE, 75 per Volume
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* * * * *
OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM;
or, Saving the Fortunes of the Trouvilles.
OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN GERMANY.
OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN RUSSIA;
or, Lost on the Frozen Steppes.
OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN TURKEY;
or, Bringing the Light to Yusef.
OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN ENGLAND;
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OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS FIGHTING TO THE FINISH;
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THE BOY SCOUTS' FIRST CAMP FIRE; or, Scouting with
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THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE BLUE RIDGE; or, Marooned
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THE BOY SCOUTS ON THE TRAIL; or, Scouting through
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THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE MAIN WOODS; or, The New
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THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER; or, The
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THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE ROCKIES; or, The Secret of
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[Illustration]
* * * * *
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the works of popular writers; each volume designed for boys' reading.
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THE NAVY BOYS IN DEFENCE OF LIBERTY.
A story of the burning of the British schooner Gasnee in 1772
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THE NAVY BOYS ON LONG ISLAND SOUND.
A story of the Whale Boat Navy of 1776.
By James Otis.
THE NAVY BOYS AT THE SIEGE OF HAVANA.
Being the experience of three boys serving under Israel Putnam in
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By James Otis.
THE NAVY BOYS WITH GRANT AT VICKSBURG.
A boy's story of the siege of Vicksburg.
By James Otis.
THE NAVY BOYS' CRUISE WITH PAUL JONES.
A boy's story of a cruise with the Great Commodore in 1776.
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THE NAVY BOYS' DARING CAPTURE.
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By William P. Chipman.
THE NAVY BOYS' CRUISE TO THE BAHAMAS.
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By William P. Chipman.
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The adventures of two boys who sailed with the great Admiral in his
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* * * * *
[Illustration]
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THE BOY SPIES AT THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS.
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A boy's story of Wheeling Creek in 1777.
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The story of how the young spies prevented the capture of General
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* * * * *
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