"
"Not the least in the world can it be helped," said the bear,
cross-like and unpleasant. "So don't try!"
"Well, if you are going to hug me I had better take this bottle out of
my pocket, so when you squeeze me the glass won't break," Uncle Wiggily
said. "Here, when you are through being so mean to me perhaps you will
be good enough to take this to Nurse Jane for her indigestion, but
don't hug her."
"I won't," promised the bear, taking the bottle which Uncle Wiggily
handed him. "What's in it?"
Before Uncle Wiggily could answer, the bear opened the bottle, and,
seeing something in it, cried:
"I guess I'll taste this. Maybe it's good to eat." Down his big, red
throat he poured the strong peppermint juice, and then--well, I guess
you know what happened.
"Oh, wow! Oh, me! Oh, my! Wow! Ouch! Ouchie! Itchie!" roared the
bear. "My throat is on fire! I must have some water!" And, dropping
the bottle, away he ran to the spring, leaving Uncle Wiggily safe, and
not hurt a bit.
Then the rabbit gentleman hurried back and squeezed out more peppermint
juice for Nurse Jane, whose indigestion was soon cured. And as for the
bear, he had a sore throat for a week and a day.
So this teaches us that peppermint is good for scaring bears, as well
as for putting in candy. And if the snow man doesn't come in our house
and sit by the gas stove until he melts into a puddle of molasses, I'll
tell you next about Uncle Wiggily and the birch tree.
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