Rabbit Adventures With Uncle Wiggily - Pt 1 – Children's Story

Hi,

This is Stefania.

We had a request from a listener for a story about rabbits.

So I found one.

This is a rabbit,

An elderly gentleman.

He is called Uncle Wiggerly and he has lots of nieces and nephews,

All different kinds of little animals running around the woods and the forests.

It looks like first.

Before starting on his next adventure,

Mr.

Wiggerly is moving house.

Well,

It's all settled,

Exclaimed Uncle Wiggerly Long Ears,

The rabbit gentleman,

One day as he hopped up on the steps of his hollow stump bungalow where Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy,

His muskwack lady housekeeper,

Was fanning herself with a cabbage leaf tied to her tail.

It's all settled.

What is?

Asked Miss Fuzzy Wuzzy.

You don't mean to tell me anything has happened to you?

And she looked quite anxious.

No,

I'm all right,

Laughed Uncle Wiggerly,

And I hope you are the same.

What I meant was that it's all settled where we are going to spend our vacation this summer.

Oh,

Tell me where,

Exclaimed the muskwack lady,

Clapping her paws,

Anxious like in a hollow stump bungalow,

Just like this,

But in the woods instead of in the country,

Answered Uncle Wiggerly.

Oh,

That will be fine,

Cried Miss Fuzzy Wuzzy.

I love the woods.

When are we to go?

Very soon now,

Answered the bunny gentleman uncle.

You may begin to pack up as quickly as you please.

And Nurse Jane and Uncle Wiggerly moved to the woods the very next day,

And his adventures began.

Uncle Wiggerly had many friends among the animal boys and girls.

There was Sammy and Susie Littletail,

The rabbits,

Jackie and Petey Bow Wow,

The puppy dog boys,

And Jolly and Jilly Longtail,

The mice children.

And I suppose we'll meet all your friends in the woods,

Won't we,

Uncle Wiggerly?

Asked Nurse Jane as they moved from the old hollow stump bungalow to the new one.

Oh yes,

I suppose so,

Of course.

He laughed in answer as he pulled on his tall silk hat more tightly down on his head,

Fastened his glasses,

And took his red,

White and blue striped rheumatism crutch that Nurse Jane had gnawed for him out of a cornstalk.

So,

Once upon a time,

Not very many years ago,

As all good stories should begin,

Uncle Wiggerly and Nurse Jane found themselves in the woods.

It was lovely among the trees,

And as soon as the rabbit gentleman had helped Miss Fuzzy Wuzzy put the hollow stump bungalow to rights,

He started out for a walk.

I want to see what sort of adventures I shall have in the woods,

Said Mr.

Longears as he hopped along.

And now let's find out what kind of adventures did he have.

The story that we're going to hear now is Uncle Wiggerly and the Winter Green.

Uncle Wiggerly Longears,

The nice old gentleman rabbit,

Knocked on the door of the hollow tree in the woods where Johnny and Billy Bushytail,

The two little squirrel boys,

Lived.

Come in,

Invited Mrs.

Bushytail.

So Uncle Wiggerly went in.

I thought I'd come around and see you,

He said to the squirrel lady.

I'm living in the woods this summer,

And just now I am out taking a walk,

As I do every day,

And I hoped I might meet with an adventure.

But so far I haven't.

Do you know where I could find an adventure,

Mrs.

Bushytail?

No,

I'm sorry to say I don't,

Uncle Wiggerly,

Answered the squirrel lady.

But I wish you could find something to make my little boy Billy feel better.

Why,

Is he ill?

Asked the bunny uncle,

Surprised like,

And he looked across the room where Billy Bushytail was curled up in a big rocking chair,

With his tail held over his head like an umbrella,

Though it was not raining.

No,

Billy isn't ill,

Said Mrs.

Bushytail,

But he says he doesn't know what to do to have any fun,

And I'm afraid he's a little peevish,

A little bit upset.

Oh,

That isn't right,

Said Mr.

Long-Ears.

Little boys,

Whether they are squirrels,

Rabbits,

Or real children,

Should try to be jolly and happy,

And not peevish.

How can a fellow be happy when there's no fun?

Asked Billy,

Sort of cross-like.

My brother Johnny got out of school early,

And he and the other animal boys have gone off to play where I can't find them.

I had to stay in because I didn't know my nutcracking lesson.

And now I can't have any fun.

Oh dear,

I don't care.

Billy meant,

I suppose,

That he didn't care what he said or did.

And that isn't right,

But Uncle Wiggly only pickled his pink nose.

No,

Wait a moment.

He just twinkled his pink nose behind the squirrel boys' back,

And then the bunny uncle said,

How would you like to come for a walk in the woods with me,

Billy?

Oh,

That will be nice,

Exclaimed the squirrel lady.

Do go,

Billy.

No,

I don't want to,

Chattered the boy squirrel most impolitely.

Oh,

That isn't nice at all,

Said Mrs.

Bushy-Tail.

At least thank Uncle Wiggly for asking you.

Oh,

Excuse me,

Uncle Willie,

Said Billy,

Story-like.

I do thank you,

But I want very much to have some fun,

And there's no fun in the woods.

I know all about them.

I know every tree and bush and stump.

I want to go to a new place.

Well,

New places are nice,

Said the bunny uncle,

But old ones are nice too,

If you know where to look for the niceness.

Now,

Come along with me,

And we'll see if we can't have some fun.

It is lovely in the woods now.

I won't have any fun there,

Said Billy Crossley.

The woods are no good.

Nothing good to eat grows there.

Oh,

Yes,

There it does.

Lots,

Laughed Uncle Wiggly.

Why,

The nuts you squirrels eat grow in the woods.

Yes,

But there are no nuts now,

Spoke the squirrel boy.

They only come in the fall.

Well,

Come scamper along anyhow,

Invited Uncle Wiggly.

Who knows what may happen.

There may even be an adventure.

Come along,

Billy.

So,

Though he did not care much about it,

Billy went.

Uncle Wiggly showed the squirrel boy where the early spring flowers were coming up,

And how the jacks in their pulpits were getting ready to preach sermons to the trees and bushes.

What's that?

Asked Billy,

Suddenly hearing a noise.

What does this sound like?

Asked Uncle Wiggly.

Like bells ringing.

Oh,

It's the blue bells,

The blue bell flowers,

Answered the bunny uncle.

Why do they ring?

Asked the little squirrel boy.

To call the ants and lightning bugs,

Fireflies to school,

Spoke Uncle Wiggly,

And Billy smiled.

He was beginning to see that there are more things in the woods than he had dreamed of.

Even if he had scampered here and there among the trees,

Ever since he was a little squirrel chap.

On and on through the woods went the bunny uncle and Billy.

They picked big leafy ferns to fan themselves with,

And then they drank with green leaf cups from a spring of cool water.

But no sooner had Billy taken the cold water than he suddenly cried.

Oh,

Dear.

Oh,

My how it hurts.

What is it?

Asked Uncle Wiggly.

Did you bite your tongue or stub on a thorn?

It's my truth,

Chatted Billy.

The cold water made it ache again.

I need to go to Mr.

Stubtail,

The bear dentist who will pull it out with his long claws.

But I've been putting it off and putting it off and now Oh,

Dear,

How it aches.

Wow.

I'll cure it for you,

Said Uncle Wiggly.

Just walk along through the woods with me and I'll soon stop your aching tooth.

How can you?

Asked Billy,

Holding his paw to his jaw to warm the aching tooth for heat will often stop the pain.

There isn't anything here in the woods to cure toothache.

Is there?

I think we shall find something,

Spoke the bunny uncle.

Well,

I wish we could find it soon,

Cried Billy,

For my tooth hurts very much.

Oh,

And he hopped up and down for the toothache was of the jumping kind.

Uh huh.

Here we have it,

Cried Uncle Wiggly as he stooped over some shiny green leaves growing close to the ground.

And he pulled some of them up.

Just chew these leaves a little and let them rest inside your mouth near the aching tooth.

Said Mr.

Long ears.

I think they will help you,

Billy.

So Billy chewed the green leaves.

They burned a little but when he put them near his tooth,

They made it nice and warm.

And soon the egg all stopped.

What was that you gave me Uncle Wiggly?

Billy asked.

Winter green,

Answered Uncle Wiggly.

It grows in the woods and is good for flavoring candy as well as stopping toothache.

I'm glad to know that,

Said Billy.

The woods are a nicer place than I thought and there is ever so much more in them than I dreamed.

Thank you Uncle Wiggly.

So as his toothache was all better,

Billy had good fun in the woods with the bunny uncle until it was time to go home.

And in the next story,

I'll tell you all about Uncle Wiggly and the slippery elm.

The slippery elm is a kind of tree.

Its juices are used for medicine,

Things to make your throat feel better and other things.

Let's see how Uncle Wiggly uses the slippery elm.

Where are you going,

Uncle Wiggly?

Asked Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy,

The muskrat lady housekeeper,

As she saw the rabbit gentleman standing on the front steps of his hollow stump bungalow in the woods one morning.

Where are you going?

Oh,

Just for a walk through the forest,

Spoke the bunny uncle.

It is so nice in the woods with the flowers coming up and the leaves getting larger and greener every day that I just love to walk there.

Well,

Said Nurse Jane with a laugh,

If you happen to see a bread tree in the woods,

Bring me a loaf for supper.

I will,

Promised Uncle Wiggly.

You know,

Nurse Jane,

There really are trees on which breadfruit grows,

Though not in this country.

I can get you a loaf of bread at the five and ten store,

I dare say.

Do please,

Asked the muskrat lady,

And if you see a coconut tree,

You might bring home a coconut cake for supper.

Oh,

I laughed the rabbit gentleman.

I'm afraid there are no coconut trees in my woods.

I could bring you home a hickory nut cake,

Perhaps.

Well,

Whatever you like,

Spoke Nurse Jane,

But don't get lost whatever you do,

And if you meet with an adventure,

I hope it will be a nice one.

So do I,

Uncle Wiggly said as he hopped off,

Leaning on his red,

White,

And blue striped rheumatism crutch which Nurse Jane had made for him out of a corn stalk.

The old rabbit gentleman had not gone very far before he met Dr.

Possum,

Walking along in the woods with his satchel of medicine on his tail,

For Dr.

Possum cured all of the ill animals,

You know.

What in the world are you doing,

Dr.

Possum?

Asked Uncle Wiggly,

As he saw the animal doctor pulling some bark off a tree.

Are you going to make a canoe,

As the Indians used to do?

Oh,

No,

Answered Dr.

Possum.

This is a slippery elm tree,

The underside of the bark next to the tree,

And the tree itself is very slippery when it is wet.

Very slippery indeed.

Well,

I hope you don't slip,

Said Uncle Wiggly kindly.

I hope so,

Too,

Dr.

Possum said,

But I am taking the slippery elm bark to mix with some of the bitter medicine I have to give to Billy Wagtail,

The goat boy.

When I put some bark from the slippery elm tree in Billy's medicine,

It will slip down his throat so quickly that he will never know he took it.

Good!

He cried Uncle Wiggly laughing.

Then the bunny uncle went close to the tree,

Off which Dr.

Possum was taking some bark and felt it with his paw.

The tree was indeed as slippery as an icy sidewalk slide on Christmas Eve.

My!

Exclaimed Mr.

Long-Ears,

If I try to climb up that tree,

I do nothing but slip down.

That's right,

Said Dr.

Possum,

But I must hurry on now to give Billy Wagtail his medicine.

So Dr.

Possum went on his way,

And Uncle Wiggly hopped along until pretty soon he heard a rustling in the bushes,

And a voice said,

But squeaky-eaky dear,

I can't find any snow hill for you to ride down on your sled.

The snow is all gone now,

You see.

It is spring now.

Oh dear,

Cried another voice,

Such a lot of trouble,

Oh dear,

Oh dear.

Ha!

Trouble,

Said Dr.

Wiggly to himself,

This is where I come in.

I must see if I cannot help them.

He looked through the bushes,

And there he saw Jilly Long-tail,

The little girl mouse.

And with her was Squeaky-Eaky,

The cousin mouse,

And Squeaky-Eaky had a small sled with her.

Why,

What's the matter?

Asked Uncle Wiggly,

For he saw that Squeaky-Eaky had been crying.

What is the matter,

Little mice?

Oh,

Hello,

Uncle Wiggly,

Cried Jilly.

I don't know what to do with my little cousin mouse.

You see,

She wants to slide downhill on her Christmas sled,

But there isn't any snow on any of the hills now.

No,

That's true,

There isn't,

Said the bunny uncle,

But Squeaky,

Why didn't you slide downhill in the winter when there was snow?

Because I had the mouse trap fever then,

Answers Squeaky-Eaky,

And I couldn't go out.

But now I am all better,

And I can be out,

And oh,

Dear,

I do so much want a ride downhill on my sled.

Boo!

Don't cry,

Squeaky dear,

Said Jilly,

If there is no snow,

You can't slide downhill,

You know?

But I want to,

Said the little cousin mouse,

Unreasonable-like,

But you can't,

So please be nice,

Begged Jilly.

Oh,

Dear,

Cried Squeaky,

I do so much want to slide downhill on my sled.

And you will,

Suddenly exclaimed Uncle Wiggly,

Come with me,

Squeaky.

Why,

Uncle Wiggly,

Cried Jilly,

How can you give Squeaky a slide downhill when there is no snow?

You need a slippery snow hill for sleigh riding.

I am not so sure of that,

Spoke Uncle Wiggly,

With a smile.

Let us see.

Off through the woods he hopped,

With Jilly and Squeaky following.

Pretty soon,

Uncle Wiggly came to a big tree that had fallen down,

One end being raised up higher than the other,

Like a hill,

Slanting.

With his strong paws and sharp teeth,

The rabbit gentleman began peeling the bark off the tree,

Showing the white wood underneath.

What are you doing,

Uncle Wiggly?

Asked Jilly.

This is a slippery elm tree,

And I am making a hill so Squeaky-Eeky can slide down,

Answered the bunny uncle.

Underneath the bark,

The trunk of the elm tree is very slippery.

Dr.

Possum told me so.

See how my paw slips.

And indeed it did,

Sliding down the sloping tree almost as fast as you can eat a lolly.

Uncle Wiggly took off a lot of the bark from the elm tree,

Making a long,

Sliding,

Slippery place.

Now,

Try that with your sled,

Squeaky-Eeky,

Said the bunny uncle,

And the little cousin Mouse did.

She put her sled on the slanting tree,

Sat down,

And Jilly gave her a little push.

Down the slippery elm tree went Squeaky as fast as anything,

Coming to a stop in a pile of soft leaves.

Oh,

What a lovely slide,

Cried Squeaky.

You try it,

Jilly,

And the little mouse girl did.

Who would think,

She said,

That you could slide down a slippery elm tree,

But you can.

Then she and Squeaky took turns sliding down the hill,

Even though there was no snow.

And the slippery elm tree?

He didn't mind a bit,

But rather he liked it.

And that's all for the Uncle Wiggly Tales for now.

When we come back,

We'll tell you the story of Uncle Wiggly and the Sassafras.

In the next adventure,

We'll see how Uncle Wiggly gets into a bit of trouble,

But that clever rabbit,

He gets himself right out of a little bit of trouble.

Until next time,

Bye for now.