John Stadler - The Ballad of Wilbur and the Moose

Summary: A lime loving cowboy and a big blue moose work their way through a version of the Wild West where rustlers steal pigs and the dealer in your card game may be a crocodile. eBook ISBN: 978-0-385-38681-4 Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-375-84174-3 Gibraltar library binding ISBN: 978-0-375-94067-5 [1. West (U.S.)Fiction. 2. MooseFiction. 3.

PigsFiction. 4. Stories in rhyme.] I. Title. PZ8.3.S7814Bal 2007 [E]dc22 2006016712 Random House Childrens Books supports the First Amendment and celebrates the right to read.

Whiskers, how about a song before we sleep? someone asked. The others agreed. So Whiskers pulled out his old banjo and sat back. He sang a song that went something like this: Listen up, you cowpokes, And Ill tell you all the tale Of surely the weirdest cowboy That ever hit the trail. His name was Wilbur Little, And he always drank lime juice. The moose, his name was Alvin, A heavyweight boxer, they say, Who knocked out everyone he fought, And then called it a day. The moose, his name was Alvin, A heavyweight boxer, they say, Who knocked out everyone he fought, And then called it a day.

Wilbur found him hitchhiking And said, Lets go out west. I hear theres lots of pigs there, And pig-herdings the best! They found a pig in Yuma Above the desert sands, Sitting on a cactus With nine books in his hands. He said, I read all day long Just in this position. But if I sit here any more Ill need a good physician.
Wilbur said, Come with us! Its pigs that we adore. The pig, he answered, Certainly! Besides, Im getting sore. Then they met a singing beauty Who worked in a saloon.

She was a little piglet Who could not carry a tune. Come with us, Wilbur said, And all that I request Is that you do not sing again. Then you can be our guest.
I wont sing, the piglet said, And with you I do rejoice. You see, I really cannot stand The sound of my own voice. At the Biddles Creek Fine Dinery, A cheerful cook named Toots Served his special of the day Boiled shoes and boots. Get him! cried the diners As they chased the fleeing pig, When, suddenly, out of Nowheresville Ran something blue and big.
The pig jumped on the mooses back Just in the nick of time.

The moose vamoosed with all due speed And offered Toots some lime. They met a man in South Rock City, A gambler by trade, Who kept his own ten charming pigs Locked up in a stockade. He said to Wilbur, Lets play cards, And if I lose Ill pay With all ten pigs from the stockade, Who you can take away.
But if I win, the gambler sneered, I get your big blue moose! And furthermore, Ill take control Of all of your lime juice! Wilbur smiled and said, Lets play, And sat down at the table. The cards were dealt by a crocodile Who used the name of Mabel.
The gambler leered and showed his cards: Five aces and six twos! But Wilbur smiled and said, I have A big blue moose! You lose!