Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-10
The Hungry
Tiger

padded boson:s Then tho Tin Wood
man embraced her--very gently, for
ne knew his tin arms might hurt
her IL he squeezed too roughly.
These greetings having been ex-
changed. Dorothy took the key to
Tiktok from her pocket and wound
up the machine mans action, SO that
ne could bow properly when intro
duced to the rest Of the company.
While doing this she told them how
useful Tiktok had been to her, and
both the Scarecrow and the Tin
Woodman shook hands with the ma
chine once more and thanked him for
protecting their friend.
Then Dorothy asked: where is
Billina?" t0.. -
Il don't know" said the Scarecrow.
"Who ia Billina?"
She's yellow hen who is another
friend of NINE" answered the girl,
anxiously. Il wonder what has be-
come of herr" .s
She Is in the chickenhouse, in the
back yard" said the Princess. my
drawing room is no place for hens"
without waiting to hear more, Dor
othy ran to get Billina, and Just out
side the door she came upon the Cow
ardiy Lion, still hitched to the char
lot beside the great Tiger. The Cow
ardly Lion had a big bow of blue
ribbon fastened to the long hair be-
tween his ears. and the Tiger wore
bow of red ribbon on his tail, Just
in front of the bushy end.
In an instant Dorothy was hugging
the huge Lion joyfully.
I'm 30 glad to see you again. she
cried.
Il am also glad to see you, Doro-
thy" said the Lion. "We've had
some fine adventures together, haven't
wer'
Yes. indeed" she replied. How
are your"
AS cowardly as ever" the beast
answered, in a meek voice. Every
little thing scares me and makes my
heart beat fast. Let me introduce
to you a new friend Of mine, the
Hungry Tiger"
"Oh! Are you hungry she asked,
turning to the other beast, who was
Just then yawning SO widely that he
displayed two rows of terrible teeth
and mouth big enough to startle
any one.
-'Dreadfully hungry" answered the
Tiger. swapping his jaws together
with fierce click.
Then, why don't you eat some
thing" she asked
IT'S no use." said the Tiger. sadly.
I've tried that, but 1 always get
hungry again"
why. 1t IL the same, with me-" said
Dorothy. yet keep on eating"
But eat harmless things, SO 1t
doesn't matter" replied the Tiger.
''F'or my part, I'm q savage beast and
have an appetite for all sorts of
poor little living creatures, from a
chipmunk to fat babies"
How dreadful said Dorothy. 80.
isn't 1t. thought" returned tho
Hungry Tiger, licking his lips with his
iouE, red tongue. ''Fat babies! Don't
they sound delicious? But I've never
eaten any. because my conscience tells
me 1t is wrong. II had no con-
science would probably eat the ba-
bies and then get hungry again,
which would mean that I had sacri-
feed the poor babies for nothing. No;
hungry I was born. and hungry I
shall die. But I'll not have any cruel
deeds on my conscience to be sorry
for"
II think you are q very good tiger"
said Dorothy. patting the huge head
OF the beast.
In that you are mistaken" was the
reply. II am . good beast. perhapS
but . d!sEracefully bad tiger. For IL
10 the nature of tigers to be cruel and
ferecious. and in refusing to eat
harmless living creatures I am acting
~ no good tiger has ever before act
ed. That II why left the fores. and
Joined my friend the Cowardly Lion"
But the Lion 10 not really coward
ly." said Dorothy. II have seen him
act ~ bravely a. can be-
"All . mistake. my DEAR" protested
the Lion. gravely. '"ro others I may