On This Day in 1921
A Tale as Old as The Lightbulb
In the winter of 1921, newspapers were filling the dreary days with happy stories for children waiting on Santa to arrive. Enjoy this vintage story that proves that even in the animal kingdom girls were utilizing their wits and new technology to protect their families and save Christmas!
Text:
Bedtime Stories
For Little Ones
By Howard B. Garlt
Copyright. 1921, by McClure
Newspaper Syndicate.
UNCLE WIGGILY AND THE
ELECTRIC LIGHT.
One morning, when Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy came downstairs in the hollow stump bungalow to get breakfast, she was surprised to sea Uncle Wiggily out in front with Grandpa Goosey Gander. The two friends were pointing toward the roof of tho bungalow, making motions, one with his paws and the other with his wings.
"Whatever can be the matter, I wonder?" thought Nurse Jane. Can the chimney be on fire?"
The muskrat lady housekeeper grew so excited that she nearly burned the maple sugar pancake she was baking for Uncle Wiggily' breakfast. Out of the bungalow sho ran, her tail ribbon catchin-; on the door knob.
"Wiggily! Wiggily!" cried Nurse Jane, "What's the matter?"
"Oh, nothing much," answered the rabbit gentleman, "Only I’m going to have electric lights put In the bungalow, and Grandpa Goosey Is to do the work."
"Good morning, Nurse Jane,’ quacked the goose gentleman. “I'm sure you'll like electric lights."
"Oh, I Just love them!" exclaimed the muskrat lady, clapping her paws. "They are so bright, and you don't have to fuss with matches."
"Putting electric lights In the bungalow is a sort of a Christmas present for you and me, Janie.” explained Uncle Wiggily. “Though, of course, there are going to be other presents, too, when Christmas really comes," added the bunny gentleman.
"Oh, I hope so!" laughed Miss Fuzzy Wuzzy, as she thought of what she was going to ask Santa Claus to bring for Uncle Wiggily.
Well, the work of putting new electric lights In the old hollow stump bungalow went on quickly. Grandpa Goosey and some other goose workmen strung wires, fastened them to poles, and in about a week Nurse Jane could Just turn a button, or pull a chain, and she had as bright a light as heart could wish.
"Oh, it's Just lovely the new electric light!" exclaimed the muskrat Jady one evening, as she sat looking at the bright glow.
"Do you know, Wiggily dear, we ought to give a little party to show our animal friends how nice our place looks all lighted up."
"That's a fine idea!" exclaimed Mr. Longears. "And invite the animal boys and girls, too every
body!"
So Nurse Jane did, and the night of the electric light party such a Jolly party went to the bungalow that you would have thought It was Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year's all made into one. At least that's what the old Wolf imagined as ho looked over the top of the hill down at Uncle Wiggily’s bungalow.
"Ah, ha! Something is going on down there!" growled the Woozie Wolf. "And something is coming off, as soon as I get there," he went on. "Uncle Wiggily’s ears are coming off! I'm going to nibble them nil off, that's what I’m going to do!"
Down the hill, to the new electrically lighted bungalow, sneaked the Wolf. Carefully ho pushed open the back door, which was not locked.
As it happened, Susie Littletail, 'Something- is going on down, there-" growled the Woozie Wolf the rabbit girl, and Dottle Fluff tall, the little lamb girl, were n the kitchen at the time, . getting ready to dish out the Ice cream for Uncle Wiggily’s electric light party. The old Wolf looked at them with his glaring eyes, and growled:
"I want something to eat I want Uncle Wiggily’s ears!"
"Oh, mercy!" bleated Dottie
"I'm going to faint!"
"Don't you dare!" whispered Susie. "We must get this Wolf away before he hurts Uncle Wiggily."
"But how can we?" asked Dottie, as the Wolf sniffed around.
"Leave him to me," answered Susie. Going up to the Wolf she smiled bravely and asked: “Before you nibble my uncle's ears wouldn't you like a little light lunch, to give you an appetite? Just a little light lunch?"
"I don't know but what I would," grumbled the Wolf. “Give me a bit of lunch, but be sure and
make it light."
Susie turned her back on him, and, as quick as a flash, she took one of of the electric light bulbs, of which there were extra ones in the kitchen. Susie wrapped this bulb up in a slice of cake, handed it to the Wolf and said: "Here is some light lunch."
"Good!" snarled the Wolf. “I'll eat that and then I'll nibble Uncle Wiggily’s ears!" With that he swallowed, at one large and Im polite mouthful, the cake and the bulb Inside. "Oh, what did you vie me! What a pain I have in my tummy! Oh, what did you give me?" the Wolf howled to Susie, as he finished swallowing.
"I gave you a little light lunch a little electric light lunch,” laughed Susie, "and you may be glad the electricity wasn't turned on in that lamp you swallowed!"
"Oh me! Oh my!" howled the Wolf, and away he ran as fast as ho could go. So he didn't spoil Uncle Wiggily’s party after all, and when the Ice cream and other good things were eaten the animal boys and girls had fun turning on and off the electric lights. So everything happened for the best, and if the horse chestnut doesn't run away with the pop corn ball and knock the cap off the head of cabbage, I'll tell you next about Uncle Wiggily and the ink spot.