THE OWL. 



We know not alway 

 Who are kings by day, 

 But the king of the night is the bold brown owl! 



I wonder why tlie folks put | wide awake and fly about getting 



my picture last in the book. It 

 can't be because they don't like 

 me, for I'm sure I never bother 

 them. I don't eat the farmer's 

 corn like the crow, and no one 

 ever saw me quarrel with other 

 birds. 



Maybe it is because I can't 

 sing. AVell, there are lots of 

 good people that can't sing, and 

 so there are lots of good l)ii-(ls 

 that can't sing. 



Did you ever see any other 

 bird sit up as straight as I do? 

 I couldn't sit up so straight if I 

 hadn't such long, shai'p claws to 

 hold on with. 



My home is in the woods. 

 Here we owls build our nests — 

 most always in hollow trees. 



During the day I stay in the 

 nest or sit on a limb. I don't 

 like day time for the light hurts 

 my eyes, but when it begins to 

 grow dark then I like to stir 

 around. All night long I am 



food for my little hungry ones. 

 They sleep most of the day 

 and it keeps me busy Jiearly 

 all night to find them enough to 

 eat. 



I just finished my night's work 

 when the man came to take my 

 picture. It was getting light 

 and I told him to go to a large 

 stump on the edge of the woods 

 and r wouhl sit for my pictui'c. 

 So liere I am. Don't you think 

 1 look wise? How do you like 

 my large eyes? If I could smile 

 at you I would, but my face 

 always looks sobei-. I have a 

 great many cousins and if you 

 really like my pictui'e, I'll have 

 some of them talk to you next 

 month. I don't think any of 

 them have such pretty feathers 

 though. Just see if they have 

 when they come. 



Well, I must fly back to my 

 perch in the old elm tree. Good- 

 bye. 



