"Oh! How fine that is!" cried the thirsty
trees. "It is almost as nice as rain. You are
very good, Uncle Wiggily," said the mother
tree, "and if ever we can do you a favor we will."
"Thank you," spoke Uncle Wiggily, making
a low bow with his tall silk hat. Then he went
on to Grandpa Goosey's where he visited with
his epizootic friend and played checkers.
On his way home through the woods, Uncle
Wiggily was unpleasantly surprised when, all
of a sudden out from behind a stone jumped
a bad bear. He wasn't at all a good, nice bear
like Beckie or Neddie Stubtail.
"Bur-r-r-r-r!" growled the bear at Uncle
Wiggily. "I guess I'll scratch you."
"Oh, please don't," begged the bunny uncle.
"Yes, I shall!" grumbled the bear. "And I'll
hug you, too!"
"Oh, no! I'd rather you wouldn't!" said the
bunny uncle. For well he knew that a bear
doesn't hug for love. It's more of a hard,
rib-cracking squeeze than a hug. If ever a bear
wants to hug you, just don't you let him. Of
course if daddy or mother wants to hug, why,
that's all right.
"Yes, I'm going to scratch you and hug you,"
went on the bad bear, "and after that--well,
after that I guess I'll take you off to my den."
"Oh, please don't!" begged Uncle Wiggily,
twinkling his nose and thinking that he might
make the bear laugh. For if ever you can get
a bear to laugh he won't hurt you a bit.
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