Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-02-10

am sorry 10 inform YOU mat the
old owl. which hooted about "the old
Slill-house," Is gone
"ToioIn the sleeping doadi"
Poor brdl he brcathcd the impure at
mosphere Of that old building 40 long
that the deceptive disease. which med
icine never cured. had made sad work
with his organs ofrespiration before he
became aware Of his danger. You say
"rhe owl sits stlli with n solemn stare,
Then starts aud nies with heavy wings,n
Yes, poor fellow he few with heavy
wings, and heavy heart. too; for he
had just received a very painful and
alarmngintimation ofdcelnlnig health.
and was going to try change OF air,
from which he hoped 10 derive some
benefit. But alasl he tried the expert.
ment too late.
One evening, just as the sun was
going down, he was seen sitting on n
dry limb Of blasted oak with his great
round eyes wide open, and staring u.
bout him in every direction rs II in
search of some one TO whom he wished
10 Immediately communicate something
Of importance-feeling no doubt that
his days, and even his minutes were
numbered. There might have been
something lying heavily upon his mind
which he wished to get rid of before he
died. And he he might have desired
TO make full confession, aud caution
other birds against haunting such pla.
ces as the one where his fatal disease
was contracted. The privilege was
denied him, however; and the secret
remained locked up in his breast, and
he carried Il with him into Eternity.
AS the last beams of the setting sun
cast food Of golden light around the
old owl he began TO wink and blink
most fearfully-jerking his eyes open
with NERVOUS and desperate effort
But il was no use-they wouldn't stay
open. Each time he winked they re-
manned shut longer and longer. until at
last they remained permanently closed
and he went off into sound sleep--so
sound indeed. that he slept right ON,
clear through the land Of dreams, and
into the world Of spirits, and tumbled
off the tree-"dead as a mackereiP"
Well, well, If that were the only mel
ancholy death which has ever been
occasioned by haunting such places we
would try to bear the misfortune with
christian fortitudc and resignation"
but is it not painful to reflect that there
are many thousands, belonging to a
far more intelligent class than the owl,
who are every day becoming so stupi-
fed with the poisonous fumes Of the
still-house that when they try to keep
their eyes open they "can't come itP'
And like the owl, when they do become
alarmed it is nearly always too late
for when they fly from the death deal
ing atmosphere Of miserable sinks Of
vice and pollution, where their fatal
maladies Were contracted, and sail
away in search Of pure air and bet tel
health, they generally land
"on Tho olhor side ofJordan."
Sometimes when the night is cleal
and the moon is shining. the "ghosll,
bridc"o that Inflated owl comes out o
the silent woods, and flies round ant
round the old still-house as IL taking
close and careful survey Of the ruins
She never stays long at a time, how
ever; and never ventures to light, but
as she peepsin at the warped and opel
windows and doors, and glanccs dow
the remaining half Of the wide OLE
chimney, she sings out, in kind o
taunting way,
Too whoot 10 WHO'D,
know where ghosts haunt-saeH do
w. MAGUIRE.
INetamoya. Jan. 81, 1854.