But that wasn’t all about Mr. Whitewash and the stovepipe. Just you wait until you get to the end of the story and you’ll see.
Soon breakfast was over, and Beckie and Neddie had started for school. Then Mr. Stubtail went to work, and Uncle Wigwag went over to call on Uncle Wiggily Longears, the rabbit gentleman, to talk about Christmas and Santa Claus.
That left Mr. Whitewash home with Mrs. Stubtail, who was washing the breakfast dishes.
“How did the stovepipe happen to come down?” asked Mr. Whitewash, curious-like.
“I guess it’s getting old and couldn’t stand up much longer,” answered the lady bear. “The first I knew it had tumbled over and the smoke poured out.”
“Yes, there was lots of smoke,” said Mr. Whitewash. “We all were frightened. I must take a look at that pipe,” which he did, putting on his glasses so he could see better.
“Ha!” he cried, after a bit. “I thought so. That stove needs a new pipe. I’ll go after it and fix it before the children come home. Then we won’t have any more trouble when you get up to get the breakfast, Mrs. Stubtail.”
“That will be very kind of you,” said the lady bear.
So off Mr. Whitewash went to get the stovepipe. And very nice he looked, too, walking along through the woods and over the fields, with his white fur all combed out like a French poodle’s when he’s had his bath. Mr. Whitewash was snow-white—and when he walked along sometimes his friends took him for a snowman, and threw snowballs at him. But Mr. Whitewash never minded that.
Well, he got to the stovepipe store all right, but the cow gentleman, who kept it, said: