128 STORIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 



all the high things are up and you can reach the 

 other branches, I think I'll go and see if I can't 

 shoot that Owl for you; he'd be a beauty stuffed." 



" Oh don't, Obi, don't kill him! Think how sorry 

 his wife might be, that is at least not until 

 after Christmas. It must be horrid to be killed 

 so near to it, you know." And then Tommy- Anne 

 stopped, knowing that she was twisting herself 

 up and talking what must seem nonsense to Obi. 



"Mistress," said Waddles, "I think you are 

 carrying things too far. Don't you remember that 

 Obi, who doesn't wear the Magic Spectacles, can't 

 possibly know that you expect that Owl to come 

 to your Christmas tree ? " 



" Of course he doesn't, Waddlekins dear, and I 

 can't ever explain the reasons either. Never mind; 

 we must coax Aunt Prue to bring all my berries 

 and corn and grasses down from the attic, and we 

 will put them around the room for decorations, 

 and then the birds can help themselves when they 

 come to the tree." 



" Obi," called Tommy- Anne, as he was going 

 out the door, " could you possibly catch me half- 

 a-dozen fat mice some time to-morrow ? " 



" Yes, to be sure I can; we catch a trapful every 

 night in the barn. I suppose you are going to 

 boil them down for tallow, the same as aunt does. 



