244 A Kindergarten Experiment 



nicely wrapped in cotton, and, with a supply of chick 

 food, stored them safely in the pocket of my great- 

 coat. And then I started for home. 



The evening was chilly, and I buttoned my coat 

 up closely, guarding carefully the new charge which 

 I had assumed. At a certain corner on Fifth Avenue 

 there was a lamp post, unlighted at the time I passed. 

 What it was that caused me to glance up, I do not 

 know ; but perched upon its top sat an owl, with 

 all the quiet dignity which has caused that bird to 

 become the emblem of wisdom. I spoke to him, 

 and waved my hand aloft ; but he remained serenely 

 indifferent to all my demonstrations. Then curiosity 

 came to the front. What in the world was the bird 

 doing there ? Where had he come from ? How had 

 he penetrated to the heart of a great city, and found 

 lodgment on such a curious perch ? I did not try 

 to answer the questions then, nor have I ever done 

 so since. What I did do was to swing, by the cross 

 bar, up within reach of his owlship, quietly capture 

 him, and store him gently away in the unoccupied 

 pocket of my great-coat. -That it was an uncalled- 



