Hi,
It's Stefania and here we are with part eight of Uncle Wiggly's Fortune.
In the last story,
There was a story of the katydid.
And Katie,
The little cat,
Was very upset that Uncle Wiggly thought that she might be the one that threw nuts at him.
But of course,
We know she didn't.
And now,
The story continues with Uncle Wiggly and Katie didn't.
Katie,
The nice little white cat,
Was the first one to awaken the next morning in the hole where she and Uncle Wiggly and the grasshopper had crawled to get away from the bad fox.
Katie arose,
Washed her face and her paws with her red tongue,
And then she softly tickled the grasshopper on his nose with the end of her fuzzy,
Wuzzy tail.
Oh,
What's the matter?
Cried the grasshopper as he hopped out of the bed made of dried leaves.
Is the house on fire?
No,
We're not in a house,
But in a hole underground,
So I don't see how it could catch on fire,
Said Katie.
I wanted you to get up and help me with the breakfast.
I thought we would let Uncle Wiggly sleep late this morning as he is tired.
That's a good idea,
Declared the little jumping chap.
I'll just take a hop outside and see what I can find to eat.
Well,
The grasshopper started to go out of the hole,
Leaving Uncle Wiggly fast asleep.
But all of a sudden,
The tiny jumping fellow came back and instead of being green as he usually was,
He had turned quite pale.
What's the matter?
Asked Katie.
The hole,
The hole is stopped up,
Cried the grasshopper.
Someone has filled up the front door with dirt and we can't get out.
Oh,
That's too bad,
Said the cat.
And she and the grasshopper looked at the lightning bug,
Who was shining brightly like a Christmas tree candle down in the dark hole so they could see.
He had shone all night for them.
How will we ever get out?
Went on the cat.
It is terrible to be shut up here.
What's that?
Is there more trouble?
Suddenly asked Uncle Wiggly as he got out of bed feet first.
Yes,
Said the grasshopper.
The front door of the hole is stopped up and we can't get out.
I think the bad fox did it.
Very likely,
Agreed Uncle Wiggly.
But don't worry,
For I can easily dig out the dirt and then we can go up and find out who it was that said Katie threw nuts at us when she didn't.
So Uncle Wiggly went to the front door of the hole house and began to dig with a strong beat.
And then he happened to think of something.
If I dig a new front door near the place where the fox stopped up the old one,
Said the rabbit gentleman,
Thoughtful like,
That bad creature may be there waiting to grab us when we go out.
So,
Hmm,
I'll play a trick on him.
I'll dig a new hole.
I'll dig a new door for this hole house and we'll go all that way.
I'll dig it at the back.
So Uncle Wiggly did this and soon there was a nice opening from the hole underground and it was some distance away from the one by which the three friends had gone in.
And surely enough,
When they looked through the trees when they went out and there was that bad fox near the stopped up hole waiting for them to come out so that he might grab them.
Oh,
I guess he'll wait there a long time for us,
Said Uncle Wiggly,
Blinking his nose and laughing.
Come on now,
Very quietly and we'll go off in the woods where he can't find us.
So away through the forest they went and the fox never saw them.
He stayed by the hole,
Which he had stopped up with dirt and stones.
And he was there a week waiting for the rabbit and his friends to come up.
And the fox got so thin from having nothing to eat in all that time that when he finally did go away,
His tail nearly dropped off and blew away.
But Uncle Wiggly and the grasshopper and the cat,
Whose name was Katie,
Traveled on and on over the hills they went and through the fields,
But they couldn't find out who it was that had said Katie had thrown the nuts when she didn't do it at all.
At last they came to another forest.
And just as night was coming on and Uncle Wiggly was passing under a tree,
Slam bang,
Down came another butternut and nearly hit him on the eye.
There,
You see,
I didn't throw that,
Cried Katie,
Who was walking besides Uncle Wiggly.
Yes,
It couldn't have been you,
Agreed the old gentleman rabbit.
I wonder who did it.
Katie did.
Katie did,
Suddenly cried a voice.
No,
She didn't,
Said Uncle Wiggly firmly.
Who are you to say such things?
Here he is.
I see him,
Exclaimed the grasshopper.
It isn't anyone at all.
It's a little green bug with wings.
And he is something like me.
He's been saying that Katie did when she didn't do it at all.
And sure enough,
There on the tree was a little light green bug.
And as Uncle Wiggly watched,
He heard this insect call out as bold as bold could be.
Katie did.
Katie did.
Now look here,
Said the old gentleman rabbit.
And he pointed his long ears and his crutch at the green bug.
Why do you say such things when you know they aren't so?
Katie never threw any nuts at me.
They just dropped down off the tree themselves.
I'm sure of it.
Katie never did it.
And she feels badly to have you say so.
Katie did.
Katie did,
Cried the insect again as if he hadn't heard the rabbit speak.
I have to say it,
You know,
He went on as he scraped his two long hind legs together.
I have to call out that Katie did,
Uncle Wiggly.
You do?
Even when she didn't do it?
Asked the rabbit,
Surprised like.
Yes,
Said the insect.
Katie did.
Katie did.
I have to call.
Katie did.
Katie did.
Oh,
I think it's just too hard for anything,
Said poor Katie,
Almost ready to cry.
I wish you wouldn't say such things about a nice cat,
Spoke the grasshopper,
For Katie didn't do it.
I know she didn't.
And just then,
Off in another tree,
There came a second voice calling.
Katie didn't.
Katie didn't.
There,
I knew someone would be kind to me,
Exclaimed the cat.
Someone knows I didn't do it.
I didn't throw the notes.
Katie did.
Katie did,
Cried the first green insect.
Katie didn't.
Katie didn't,
Answered the second little green chap.
She did,
Went on the first one.
She didn't.
Katie didn't,
Answered his brother,
Positive like.
Katie did.
Katie didn't.
Oh,
My,
This dispute is very unpleasant,
Said Uncle Wiggly.
Please stop it.
But the green insects wouldn't stop,
And they kept on calling.
First,
One will say that Katie did do it,
And then the other would say that she didn't.
And so on they went.
Katie did.
Katie didn't.
Well,
Said Uncle Wiggly at last,
When he tried to make them stop,
But couldn't do it.
At any rate,
Katie,
You have some friends who will stand up for you and who will always say you didn't do it.
And I know you didn't,
No matter if others say you did.
Now,
Let's find a place to sleep,
And tomorrow I will look once more for my fortune.
So they found a nice,
Hollow stop in which to sleep,
And nothing happened to them all night,
Except that a big-eyed,
Feathery owl tried to bite the grasshopper.
But Uncle Wiggly tickled the bad bird with his crutch and made him fly away.
And then they all slept in peace and quietness until morning.
The next day,
The old gentleman rabbit had quite an adventure.
I'll tell you what it is in a minute.
It's about Uncle Wiggly and P.
T.
Bow Wow.
Uncle Wiggly and P.
T.
Katie,
The little white cat,
Felt quite happy the next day after she and Uncle Wiggly and the grasshopper had slept in the hollow stump.
As I told you in the last story,
No matter if some of the green sex do say I did throw those nuts,
She said,
Others of them will say I didn't do it.
So it'll be all right.
And from then on,
Even up to now,
You can hear the did and the didn't insects calling to each other in the cool night.
Katie did.
Katie didn't.
That's how they dispute,
And they never seem to settle it.
Where are you going?
Asked the old gentleman rabbit as he saw the cat starting off by herself in the woods when breakfast was over.
Oh,
I'm going back home,
She said.
I have been away too long already,
And my mama will be worried about me.
But I'm very happy to have met you and the grasshopper,
And I hope you will soon find your fortune,
Uncle Wiggly.
I hope so,
Too,
Spoke the rabbit.
And then he and the grasshopper started off together through the woods,
Looking on all sides for any sign of gold or diamonds.
They traveled on for many miles,
But I'm sorry to say they didn't find any fortune at all.
Not even so much as a five cent piece with a hole in it.
When noon came,
They sat down by a little spring of water and built a fire.
Then the rabbit roasted some carrots,
And the grasshopper ate a small piece of cherry pie and some bread and jam,
For he was very fond of sweet things.
Well,
We'll travel on again,
Said the rabbit as he scattered the crumbs for the ants to eat.
Why don't you stay here and look for your fortune,
Asked the grasshopper,
Wiggling his ears.
Oh,
It would be of no use,
Said Uncle Wiggly.
Haven't we looked all over these woods,
And we didn't even find a diamond ring.
No.
We must travel on.
Why don't you dig a hole here by this old stump,
Asked the grasshopper.
Perhaps there is a gold mine here.
It is nice and shady,
And you can dig deep and keep cool.
Oh,
I will sit on the stump and watch you,
And also sing a song now and then.
Perhaps that would be a good plan,
Agreed Uncle Wiggly after thinking it over.
I believe I will dig here.
It could do no harm,
And it may be of some use.
Laying aside his crutch and his case,
He began to dig in the earth with his sharp feet.
My,
I'm making a regular mine,
Thought Uncle Wiggly after a while.
But there doesn't seem to be any gold here.
However,
I'll go down a little deeper.
And then,
All of a sudden he heard the grasshopper cry,
Look out,
Uncle Wiggly!
Look out!
The alligator is coming!
Oh me,
Oh my,
Shouted the rabbit as he tried to jump out of the hole he had dug,
But it was too deep and he only fell back to the bottom.
He heard the whir of the grasshopper's wings as that hopping chep flew away,
And as the grasshopper skipped over the daisies,
He cried out,
I'll go get help,
Uncle Wiggly,
For he knew he couldn't fight the alligator all alone.
Oh,
Whatever shall I do,
Thought the rabbit.
I must get out.
So he gave another jump,
But it was of no use.
And then,
Before Uncle Wiggly could twinkle his nose twice over the hedge of the hole,
Leaned the scaly,
Scaly alligator.
Ha!
Ho!
There you are,
Cried the scaly creature,
Smiling such a big smile that it is a wonder the top of his head didn't fly off.
So you are in a hole?
Well,
That suits me,
For you can't get away,
And I can take you whenever I please.
I guess I'll wait until I am a little more hungry.
Meanwhile,
I'll sit here and look at you.
And the alligator did this,
Perched on the edge of the hole,
With his mouth grinning from ear to ear and his tail slowly switching to and fro to keep off the flies from his scaly hide.
Are you really going to bite me?
Said the rabbit,
Sad like.
I am,
Replied the alligator in a nutmeg-greater voice.
Would you let me go if I gave you my crutch and my case filled with cherry pie?
Asked Uncle Wiggly sorrowful-like,
Not for worlds,
Cried the alligator,
Smacking his jaws.
I'm going to bite you now.
And with that,
He started to crawl down into the hole to get the rabbit.
But don't worry,
Someone is on the way to save Uncle Wiggly.
All of a sudden,
Just as the alligator was almost down to Uncle Wiggly,
And only the tip of his tail was sticking out over the edge,
There was a movement on the other side of the hole.
And looking up,
The rabbit saw a curious sight.
There was some sort of an animal looking down at him.
But such an animal.
His tail was all stuck up with stickery burrs,
And it had a lump of mud on the end.
On one ear was stuck a big green leaf,
And on the other ear was a piece of red paper from a Chinese lantern,
And on his back were chestnut burrs and bits of briar bushes.
And this animal grinned and showed his teeth and shook himself so that the mud was scattered all over.
Then this animal cried,
"'Ey,
You bad alligator,
Get out and let the rabbit alone.
" "'What for?
Do you want to bite him yourself?
' asked the scaly,
Scaly alligator creature,
Grinning from ear to ear.
"'No,
I don't,
' answered the dreadful-looking animal.
"'But you get away from here or I'll eat you.
And my,
You should have heard that muddy creature growl.
No,
Perhaps it's just as well you didn't hear him.
Anyhow,
The new,
Strange animal growled so that even the alligator was frightened.
And Uncle Wiggly said to himself,
"'Oh,
Worse and worse.
If this alligator doesn't get me,
This terrible creature will.
'" Then the terrible creature growled some more,
And showed his teeth.
And the alligator crawled out of the hole and scurried away,
Taking his scaly tail with him.
"'Ha-ha,
That's the time I fooled you,
' cried the terrible- looking animal.
And then he burst out laughing and took the paper and leaf from his ears and shook the burrs from his tail.
And who do you suppose it was?
Why,
None other than Petey Bow-wow,
The nice puppy dog.
"'Oh,
You saved my life,
' cried Uncle Wiggly,
Thankfully.
"'Yes,
He certainly did,
' said the grasshopper,
Perching himself on the edge of the hole.
"'I met Petey in the woods and told him about you.
And he rolled in the mud and water and stuck himself all up with burrs,
So as to make himself look as terrible as possible and scare the alligator.
It was a good trick,
Wasn't it?
' "'It was indeed,
' cried the rabbit,
As the grasshopper and the puppy dog helped him out of the hole,
Even if I didn't find my fortune.
"'So,
The alligator didn't get the rabbit,
And Uncle Wiggly had another adventure the next day.
I'll tell you about that one the next time.
It'll be about Uncle Wiggly and Jackie Bow-wow,
The puppy dog.
And that's all for today.
Bye for now.
"
