118 



MADAM OWL AND THE CHICKENS. 



"Begging your pardon," said the owl, "they do steal! That 

 speckled hen stole six worms this morning from the old lame 

 drake; that's mean, that is, — /wouldn't steal from a lame bird! " 



"You seem to know a great deal about my poultry-yard," I 

 said. *' Suppose you stay at home in future, and find something else 

 besides my chickens to feed your young ones with. On that con- 

 dition I will let you go, but otherwise I shall be obliged to get 

 Thomas to wring your neck." 



"What, that great horrid 

 man?" screamed the owl. " I^o! 

 no ! don't let him touch me ! I 

 will never come here again, if 

 you will let me go this time. 

 He is no better than I am," she 

 continued. " He steals the 

 hens' eggs every single day; 

 and he kills the hens, too ! 

 I\e seen him do it. Why 

 don't you wring Ms 

 ncc-k?" 



"Well! well!" I 

 said, not quite 

 knowing 

 what to reply 

 to this turn- 

 ing of the 

 tables; for 

 Thomas cer- 

 tainly did 

 take the eggs 

 and kill Ihe 

 hens, and I 

 and my chil- 

 dren certain- 

 ly ate them. 

 "Well! well! 



