Miss Twiggley’s Tree

By Dorothea Warren Fox

Copyright 1966

Miss Twiggley and her highly intelligent dog Puss live up high in a tree house.  It is a very comfortable house – it even has color TV.  It is fortunate that Puss is so smart, since he is the one who goes to town for the groceries.  You see, Miss Twiggley gets very nervous around people and when others come to visit, she hides.  The mayor’s wife doesn’t understand and finds it quite disgraceful.  Try as she might, she can’t get her husband to do anything about it, as he has more pressing matters to deal with.  For instance, a hurricane is on the way and he is quite worried about the town’s well-being.

The hurricane indeed came in, wild and windy.  The townspeople, now flooded out of their houses, float away on anything that will hold them. 

Miss Twiggley, safe and warm high up in her treehouse, notices the plight of the people down below.  Although afraid of other people, she is compassionate, and overcomes her fear to help them.  Soon, most of the town is happily resting out the storm in Miss Twiggley’s tree – even the mayor’s wife.

And Miss Twiggley found out

Something wonderful, too:

When emergencies come,

You don’t think about you.

You help all you can.

And you never ask why.

Then the first thing you know,

You forget to be shy.