Uncle Wiggily Longears, a rabbit gentleman, lives in a hollow stump bungalow with Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy, a muskrat lady. One morning, Uncle Wiggily is relieved to hear that Baby Bunty, a lively little rabbit girl he found in a hollow stump, has gone out to play. He looks forward to a peaceful breakfast and reading his newspaper, the Cabbage Leaf Gazette. However, Nurse Jane suddenly alerts him to the sight of Baby Bunty's doll skidding along the ground as if it were alive. Uncle Wiggily is puzzled, as dolls can't move on their own. Nurse Jane urges him to chase after the doll to prevent Baby Bunty from feeling upset. Uncle Wiggily, without his hat or crutch, rushes out to catch the runaway doll. Despite his efforts, the doll continues to slide away, seemingly unaided. Uncle Wiggily is determined to solve the mystery and eventually catches the doll when it gets snagged on a tree root. He discovers a thin, black thread tied around the doll, revealing that someone was pulling it. Baby Bunty emerges from behind a bush, admitting she tied the thread to her doll and pulled it to make Uncle Wiggily hop and stay active. Uncle Wiggily, amused by the playful trick, laughs and acknowledges that he's not stiff now, thanks to the unexpected exercise. The story concludes with a lighthearted note, hinting at another adventure involving Uncle Wiggily and Bunty's medicine.
By Howard R. Garis · First published 1918 · Genre: Children's literature, Animal Fiction, Fantasy