Uncle Wiggily and Bunty's Rope

Name: Uncle Wiggily and Bunty's Rope
Author: Howard R. Garis

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 · 1,189 words

First lines

"Uncle Wiggily, would you do me a little favor? " asked Baby Bunty one morning, as she came out on the porch of the hollow stump bungalow, where Mr. Longears, the rabbit gentleman, was reading the paper.

"Well, Baby Bunty! " said Uncle Wiggily, to the little rabbit girl, whom he had found in a hollow stump tree, "I'd do almost anything for you, but please don't ask me to come to any more parties, or chase you or play tag, or take you out in the woods with your rubber ball. I simply can't do that, for I am too old and stiff!"

What this Textopian page supports

Uncle Wiggily and Bunty's Rope is listed on Textopian as a short story by Howard R. Garis, dated 1924 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Howard R. Garis
Date: 1924 CE
Language: English
Genres: Children's Literature, Animal Fantasy, Humor, Adventure, Fable
Length: 1,189 words
Structure: 1 section, 28 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Work identity for Uncle Wiggily and Bunty's Rope by Howard R. Garis
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
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Genres

Children's Literature — The narrative, simple language, and anthropomorphic characters clearly target a young audience.
Animal Fantasy — Anthropomorphic animal characters engaging in human-like adventures are central to the work.
Humor — Playful language, puns, and whimsical scenarios contribute to a humorous tone.
Adventure — The characters' journey through the woods and encounters provide elements of gentle adventure.