WHY THE OOGLY MAN STOPPED GIVING MEDICINE

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 90, 13 October 1934, Page 20

WHY THE OOGLY MAN STOPPED GIVING MEDICINE

(Written for "The Pairy Ring" by "Antioiie," Seatoun.)

WHISPEY E]JF was being chased by all the blue down-in-the-dumps. Now the blue dowii-ih-thc-dtimps are the worst kind you can be chased by, and he was feeling so unhappy that he knew the only thing for it was to go to the Oogly Man and get some polishing tonic; which is the only thing that will stop the- blue dottiwn-t he-dumps train following you. All along the forest road to the Oogly house he kept repeating what ho would say to the Oogly Man, but all the time he'd get it muddled up. If he wanted tb say, "Oogly Man," it would come out. of his mouth as "Moogly Anne, which wouldn't do fit all. lie nearly had his tongue untwisted when the Oogly Man appeared, and ho was so surprised that he let it get all twisted up again. Ho had to stare hard to make sure it was the Oogly, Man coming before he spoke, for the wise old gentleman- was making the most dreadful face, was without his spectacles, and didn't look at all wise. Whispey trotted into step "What are you making such a face for?" he asked* "Medicine!" exclaimed the Oogly Man, glaring lit his Elf and continuing: on his way, "Isn''t it nice medicine" asked Whispey, making, conversation, < The Oogly Man glared. "Mind your business!" he .snapped rudely. So Whispey minded it for a little while, "trudging1 silently, along by the Oogly Mans side Until that person had almost ceased from making' the disagreeable faces. Then it was the Oogly Man who'spoke.. "I was taking some medicine to the squirrel children," he said humbly. ... "WcllJ" prompted Whispey, dancing with impatience, but the spell was

The Oogly Man seemed to come to his senses with a jerk. "Mind your business! he snapped again, and retired into his wise look and his spectacles, which he produced from his pocket and placed in a precarious position On the end of his nose,-finally surveying his Elf through them. "What are you following me for?" he demanded* coming to a stop. "I came to get some polishing tonic," started Whispey, his tongue.starting its tric-kg again... : ■■ ■ , . • , ' A blank look flitted across the Oogly Man's face, followed by a wise one. "What you want is something to do!" he exclaimed. "But the 'bluo.down-in-the-dumps keep following me," Whispcy moaned. "Do somethjngj and they wont!" said the Oogly Man. "Go and.do this for me. Go to Mother Squirrel and tell her children to do something, and she: won't need medicine, to make them well agaiilr",And liCvhobbled back the way he had come. . . '. ... ■ , Whispey felt gay now that ho hadn't to take any polishing tome, which is terribly bitter medicine, and smiled when he saw the blue dumps scuttling off into the distance. Before long he came to Mother Squirrel's. "What?" gasped that:worthy person, not daring to believe her ears, and the squirrel children all crowded about with popping eyes. "What? Do you really mean to, say the Oogly Man hasn't sent any medicine?' she gasped when Whisper had. repeated the message* "Yes/ he chuckled. "It!s a furfny thing, but the old man seems to have suddenly- gone off meclicinci And liO was'so fond of dosing us all up on it!" \t that moment a crow alighted oil the tree. "Funny V she shrieked, I Fhoniii say so! So would you have thought it funny if you'd seen the Oogly Man swallow the squirrel's medicine, in mistake, like I did!" And sin cackled loudly and flapped her wings, for she, too, had had to take the- Oogly Man s 1M "Ho'might forget soon,"' Whispciy called out, giggling a little. "Forget!"'' forceched the crow., "Ndt he! He. took too big a dose.' And off she flew, while the squirrel .children started to scampeir gfiily about, Mother Squirrel to sing about her-work, arid'Whispey to whistle its he made his way back through the forest.?.;. '. ~' , „,~. \ , r , the crow must, have -Wen right, fdf never tti this day lids the Oogly Mali give>n medicine as well as good advice to the' people of the forest.