But, though he went close to the bush, and called very gently, the pussies did not jump into his paws.
“I guess they are too frightened,” said the bunny uncle. “I’ll just break off the branch with the pussies on,” thought Mr. Longears, “and carry them home that way. Poor little pussies! Did a bad bow-wow dog scare you? Well, just come with your Uncle Wiggily, and it will be all right!”
So the bunny gentleman broke off the branch with the soft, fuzzy pussies on it, and away he walked through the woods.
“I’ll take them to Mother Goose,” he said, “and then I’ll go to the blacksmith shop and have my glasses mended.”
Uncle Wiggily soon was at the house of the lady who swept cobwebs out of the sky.
“Mother Goose! Mother Goose!” he cried. “I’ve brought you some little pussies on the branch of a bush. A dog chased and scared them up there, and they were afraid to come down. Please get them some warm milk with carrot sauce in.”
Mother Goose came running to the door. She looked at the fuzzy things Uncle Wiggily held out. Then she laughed.
“What’s the matter?” asked the bunny uncle. “Why don’t you take care of the poor pussies?”
“Pussies? Pussies?” laughed dear old Mother Goose, harder than before. “Those are pussy willows.”
“Pussy willows” said Uncle Wiggily, surprised like.