Lulu, Alice and Jimmie Wibblewobble | Page 8

him,
while I hurry for the doctor."
So the three Wibblewobble children walked on through the pleasant
woods, until they came to the place where the Bushytail family had
moved. Their home was now in a hollow stump, close to the ground,
and there was a fallen tree leading up to it, just like a plank over the
brook, so the ducks could easily walk up it. They went right to the front
door, and Jimmie knocked with his strong, yellow bill. Mrs. Bushytail
opened the door, and when she saw the little ducklings, she said:
"Oh, my dears! Do not come too near, for we don't know what disease
Billie may have. I would not want you to catch it."
"Oh, we are not afraid," spoke Jimmie. "But we will not come too near.
We were out walking in the woods, and we met little Sister Sallie. We
came to call on Billie, and cheer him up."
"That is very kind of you," said Mamma Bushytail. "The poor little
fellow is quite miserable. I put his feet in hot mustard water, and gave
him some Jamaica ginger, and he is now in bed. I fear he has the
epizootic, which is a very dreadful disease."
"Oh, I hope not!" exclaimed Alice, kindly. "Perhaps he only has the pip,
which is not nearly so bad."
"Perhaps," answered Mamma Bushytail. "I have sent Johnnie for some
quinine, and that may help Billie."
"May we see him?" asked Lulu. "Perhaps we can cheer him up."
"To be sure, you may see him," replied Billie's mamma; so she opened
the door a little wider in order that the ducklings might look in the
hollow-stumphouse, for of course they could not enter, as it was too
small. They saw Billie, all wrapped up in blankets, in bed, and he
looked quite ill. But he seemed happy in spite of that, for the hot
mustard footbath had helped him some. He smiled when he saw Jimmie
and Lulu and Alice. Then Jimmie gave Mrs. Bushytail some nice

acorns he had picked up in the woods and had carried under his wing.
"They are for Billie," said Jimmie. Next Lulu gave the sick squirrel-boy
some nice, sweet grass she had gathered on the edge of the pond, and
Alice had some lovely sugared sweet-flag root, which is very good in
case of sickness. Then Billie felt much better, and after a while Jimmie
said: "Let's sing a funny little song for Billie." So Jimmie, Alice and
Lulu sang this little verse to cheer up poor, sick Billie, and, if you can
get a good singer to sing it for you, it doesn't sound at all bad, I assure
you:
Don't mind if you have to take stuff from a spoon, 'Tis better than
having to climb to the moon. You might make a stumble or else have a
tumble, And then you would fall pretty soon.
We came, little Billie, to make you feel better. At first we were going
to write you a letter; But we had no ink, dear, so that's why we came
here. We're dry now, but we'll soon be wetter.
Then Billie laughed right out loud, he felt so much better, and he ate
some acorns and the sweet-flag root, nibbling at it with his sharp teeth.
Then a scratching sound was heard on the stump, and who should come
up it but Sister Sallie, with Dr. Possum.
The doctor said "He!" and he said "Hum!" and he said "Ahem!" Then
he felt Billie's pulse and made him put out his tongue. Then Dr. Possum
exclaimed: "Why, this little squirrel isn't sick at all! No, sir! Not at all.
My goodness me; no, indeed! Why, the very idea! Sick? I guess not!"
But Mrs. Bushytail said her little boy had been very ill, and Dr. Possum
answered:
"Well, if he was sick, these little ducks have cured him. They are just as
good at doctoring as I am; yes, indeed; and a thermometer or two
besides. There is no need for me."
"It was the funny little song that cured me," said Billie. Then he got out
of bed and began frisking around; the doctor went home, and the little

squirrel was all well. After a while Jimmie, Lulu and Alice had to leave,
and they went home, feeling very happy for the good they had done to
Billie Bushytail, for it always makes you feel happy to help some one.
Now, if you promise not to whisper in school next week you shall hear
to-morrow night how Jimmie tried to become a flying machine.
[Illustration:]

STORY VI
JIMMIE AS A FLYING MACHINE
One day, I think it must have been about three-and-a-half-quacks past
cornmeal time, there was a great commotion in