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The Screech Owl's Valentine 



BY FLORENCE A. VAN SANT 



A Screech Owl once set out to find 



A comely mate of his own kind ; 

 Through wooded haunts and shadows dense 

 He pressed his search with diligence; 

 As a reward 

 He soon espied 

 A feathered figure, 

 Golden -eyed. 



"Good -night ! my lady owl," said he; 

 "Will you accept my company?" 

 He bowed and snapped, and hopped about, 



He wildly screamed, then looked devout. 

 But no word came, 

 His heart to cheer, 

 From lady owl, 

 That perched so near. 



The suitor thought her hearing dull, 



And for her felt quite sorrowful. 

 Again by frantic efforts he 



Did try to woo her from her tree ; 

 "Pray, loveliest owl, 

 The forest's pride, 

 Descend and be 

 My beauteous bride." 



"A wedding feast of mice we'll keep, 



When cats and gunners are asleep ; 

 We'll sail like shadows cast at noon, 



Each night will be a honey-moon." 

 To this she answered 

 Not one breath ; 

 But sat unmoved 

 And still as death. 

 (196) 



