Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-07
Frightened Frances and the Wingaloo
BY DORIS WEBB.

Frances was the most timid little girl in
the world. She was afraid OF everything.
sh, screamed whenever she saw spider.
or a mouse, or a caterpillar. and she cried
IL she was left alone two minutes. Once she
was afraid Of her own shadow. and ran half
q mile trying to get away from 1t. Other
wise she was a very nice little girl. but no
one ever found 1t out. for she was SO afraid
OF people that whenever anyone came into
tn, house she ran and hid under the dining
room table But one night something hap
pened that would have frightened any child.
Frances was In bed. and her window was
open, when suddenly she heard great
Tapping above the house. She put her head
right under the covers, for che was just
frightened TO pieces and then she heard
sound coming down the chimney, like this,
''Woooo-woo-o-o." Then there was the
Tapping again. this time round at the WIN
dow, and Frances lifted up q corner OF the
counterpane and just peeped out wee bit.
that frightened her so much that her halr
actually UNFINISHED from the curl pins into
which 1t had been done up, and stood
straight out on all sides Of her head. She
saw huge Wingaloc sitting on the win
dow sill. II you don't know what Wing
aloo Is just look him up In your natural his
tory If you don't discover him there, and
of course you won't, come back to the story
and find out all about him. A Wlngaloo Is
a tremendous owl-iike. pelican-like bat
like, cat-like, rat-like creature who lilies
about on windy nights and calls "Woooooo"
down the chimney as you have just heard
"Who-o-o-o's in there?" said the Winga-
loo And Frances was so frightened she
gave a little shrek.
ser
Now, Wingaloos love to catch mice. so this
strange creature squeezed right through the
window-he was 80 big that il was nara
yrorL-and famed into the room.
dO-o-o-e-e-el" walled Frances. peeping out
Of the covers
mo mousef said the Wlngaioo. Who-o-o
are y-o-o-o-ur
Frances Abigail Jenks." whispered
Frances.
siOhi ohi' said Frances and she jump
ed out of bed to run away But the
Wingaloo caught her In his long pelican-like
beak. Get on my back" said he, and before
found herself on the Wingaloo's back with
her arms around his neck. And then out OF
the window he flew, and away up into the
Now Frances had just about reached the
end Of her frightability. I mean she had
been SO frightened that she couldn't pos
sibly be any more frightened, so she &C
tuaily began to feel better. 1t was really
very interesting Tapping through the air
this way. Frances began to wonder what
the wingaloo's home was like. At last
she saw a very tall, steep mountain In the
distance. for the moon was out and she
could see quite plainly. The WingaIoo was
flying straight to the mountain, and when
he got quite close to 1t Frances saw q
strange looking thing on the very tipmost
II was, for the Wingaioo flew into 1t and
dropped Frances upon the soft. silky stuff
that formed the lining. Frances was rath-
or glad to get there, even IL u was % on the
very comfortable, for the silky stun was
softer than. anything she had ever lain
upon. Indeed II was SO cozy that before
to sleep and was dreaming that she was
lying on q cloud.
She woke In the morning and peeped over
the nest Just In time to see the great red
sun push over the edge OF the earth In the
distance It certainly was very nne to be
able to look at all the country from the
mountain top. and Frances would have felt
quite happy II only she had felt sure Of
not in the nest, but in q little while he
came Tying up again with branch Of de-
iicious peaches In his beak.
breakfast" he said. putting them down
In the nest. He never said more than he
needed 70. but Frances didn't mind that.
She bsgan eating tho peaches and found
them very nice. When she had finished
.hs said politely. .1a An H,n now wont you
'sNo-o-o-o." said the Wingaloo. and that
was all he would say,
Frances felt very sad indeed, and after
q while the Wingaloo dew away again and
she was left to think things over. It was
now bright daylight.
"Wsll,h she said. III he won't take me
homo IN have to get home myself. But
how am TO DO itf For the mountain
was a. tai and slim az church stseple
u certainly can't climb DOWN. and she
began to CRY.
Just than she saw what looked like q
few snowfiakea far below her, but they
seemed to be falling up instead Of down.
They came nearer and nearer, until when
they reached the nest, Frances found that
thsy wers ptEeons-the most beautiful pi-
geons she had ever sean. They were white,
with gold on their feathers, and just tinted
with wonderful melting colors-pink and
green and blue and vioast They perchsd
n circle around the nest and began chirp-
ing and twittering.
why are you cryingf~ said one. And
then Frances told than how the Wingn1oo |
bad carried her or and how she couldn't |
ret down. /
Dear, 6sar.- said the pigeons. .sdear.
AsAr, dsar, dsarr and thsv began chirping !