Uncle Wiggily, a rabbit gentleman, is approached by Baby Bunty, a little rabbit girl, who asks him to accompany her to buy a skipping rope. Uncle Wiggily, relieved that she doesn't want him to play games or attend parties, agrees to help her. They visit a store where Baby Bunty selects a skipping rope with puff balls on the ends. As they return through the woods, Baby Bunty begins to practice jumping rope, while Uncle Wiggily takes a nap on a mossy log. Baby Bunty struggles to learn on her own and decides to ask Uncle Wiggily for help. She ties one end of the rope to a tree and gently wakes Uncle Wiggily to turn the other end for her. Uncle Wiggily obliges, turning the rope slowly at first, allowing Baby Bunty to practice jumping "salt," a slow pace. As she improves, she asks him to turn faster, progressing to "pepper" and then "vinegar" speeds. Just as Uncle Wiggily is about to fall asleep again, Baby Bunty urgently asks him to turn "mustard," the fastest pace, to wake him up. She alerts him to the approach of the bad Pipsisewah, a creature that poses a threat. Uncle Wiggily and Baby Bunty quickly flee, running "mustard" fashion to escape. The Pipsisewah is left behind, thwarted by Baby Bunty's quick thinking. The story concludes with Baby Bunty successfully learning to jump rope at the "mustard" pace the next day, highlighting her determination and the importance of teamwork and quick thinking in overcoming challenges.
By Howard R. Garis · First published 1924 · Genre: Children's Literature, Animal Fantasy, Humor