246 A Kindergarten Experiment 



ing. Once an ill-directed blow had sent the bag 

 flying through a window between the inner room and 

 the one used as a library. Fortunately, a large pic- 

 ture, with an exceedingly heavy frame, now hung 

 directly over the window, and hence concealed the 

 fracture, which was meanwhile awaiting the attention 

 of the glazier. 



It now occurred to me that this inner room would 

 be an admirable abode for my owl. In the first 

 place, it was dark ; and we all know that owls c love 

 darkness rather than light.' Then there were mice 

 there, and they naturally would furnish him with 

 food. It seemed a fortunate provision for getting rid 

 of mice without the aid of a cat, which would not 

 have been a congenial companion for the birds. In 

 fact, I thought the owl question was very happily 

 settled. How little I foresaw the outcome ! 



On reaching home, I deposited Mr. Owl in the 

 inner room, upon a bracket that ran out from the 

 wall. He seemed to take to the place kindly, and, 

 so far as I could see, appeared to be contented. But 

 one should never judge from appearances especially 

 with owls. The chickens were a much harder prob- 



