Funny Animals #88

Li'l Buck dreads spelling class—it's his worst subject—so when the teacher calls on him to spell "cloth," he's in a tight spot. The teacher tries to help by asking what his pants are made of, leading to an embarrassing revelation that lands the whole class in laughter. A quick, punchy gag about a young student's hand-me-down wardrobe getting the better of him.

The Merry Mailman springs into action when a treasure map meant for Long John Silver's pilot tumbles from his mail pouch—and the plane takes off before he can deliver it! Determined to get the map to its rightful destination on time, he and his pal Wheezer hire a plane and set course for Treasure Island, only to discover that a shady character wants the map for himself. It's a high-flying adventure that proves there's never a dull day in the mail delivery business.

When Hoppy keeps refusing to kiss her, Millie turns to her friend Freddy for advice—leading her through a series of increasingly elaborate schemes, from a romantic tunnel ride to party games, each one more hilariously misguided than the last. As Millie grows more frustrated and Freddy more determined to play matchmaker, the real reason for Hoppy's reluctance finally comes to light in a punchline that leaves poor Freddy wondering if he should ever meddle in romance again.

When Wheezer suggests that being King Orlando's is the easy life, the Merry Mailman offers him a chance to find out firsthand—swapping jobs for a day so the restless fellow can wear the crown while the king tries his hand at the mail route. It's a lighthearted lesson in appreciating the work you do, as both quickly discover that every job comes with its own set of headaches.

The Merry Mailman delivers a letter to Lord Twinklefrost at his new job at the zoo, where the distinguished fellow regales him and Wheezer with tall tales of his African adventures—capturing the fearsome tiger Samba in a trap and photographing the vain lion Leo, all while the curious pair wonder how he really came by the animal heads decorating the game room. It's a lighthearted romp full of exaggeration and humor that reveals Lord Twinklefrost's true nature by story's end.

Wilbur the Waiter serves up trouble at a restaurant where his wisecracks about the menu items land him in hot water with increasingly frustrated customers—a half-page comedy that runs on pure pun-power and quick timing. 1955.