You may have heard somewhere of Uncle Jerry Chuck. He was an old woodchuck who lived in Farmer Green's pasture. And he was known far and wide as the stingiest person in Pleasant Valley. He never paid for anything if he could possibly help it.
Well, Uncle Jerry had the toothache. That was nothing new for him, either. He often had the toothache. And it was always the same tooth, too—because he had only one in his head. But he never would go and have his tooth pulled, because he simply hated the thought of paying anyone[p. 64] to take it out. He had an idea that he was the one who should be paid. But he never could find a dentist who looked at the matter in that light.
Uncle Jerry was strolling through the woods. He had a big red handkerchief tied about his face, because it was a cold day. And he was getting very tired of the toothache. He was just wishing that he could get rid of it—for nothing. He even thought he would be willing to part with that tooth without asking any pay for it, when what should he see right in front of him but a big sign, which said:
JAMES RABBIT
TOOTH PULLER
"Hello!" said Uncle Jerry. "Here's something new! I've never noticed that sign before." And he stepped inside the[p. 65] hollow stump to which the sign was nailed.
And there he found Jimmy Rabbit, in a white apron, and with a pair of pincers in his hand. Frisky Squirrel was there, too, sitting in a corner and holding onto his head.
"What are your prices?" Uncle Jerry asked.