Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1892-12-29
THU owl. LAUGHED.
frrS vird Of Wisdom, Inaulges In a Lssis

fhS Vird Of Wisdom Tniuiges In a Lt3ffs
Noisc.
Over twsnty years ago. travelling
on foot througha rough section In the
eastern part Of Missouri. found my
self toward sunset in a solid German
settlement
They almost without exceptise
keep cross dogs-usually bulldogs oil
savage ferocity often dangerous for
iAeir owners if approached after being
loosened from their chains al
nightiall. For this reason it was
hazardous 10 travel after sunset, so
began an hour before shutdown to find
lodging place for the night but the
Germans either could not or would
not understand me-
The shades OF night were gathering
when | saw with pleasure the light OF
campfire shining in two white COW
cred emigrant wagons in the woods
down below the road / was travelling
They proved TO be Americans and
when | told them how / was situated
they gave me friendly welcome, and
we passed pleasant evening by that
campfire.
After we retired TO rest and per-
feet quiet reigned in the camp there
arose on the still night air the most
hideous diabolical laughter that ever
greeted the ears OF mortal man. The
boy lying beside me made fair imi-
tation OF the sound What is it?"
| asked. That" said the father
is laughing owl; the boy is hooking
it in his sleep.
Sometime after still prospecting in
Missouri. reached after dark a fer
ry-house and which was also tav.
ern on the Usage river in q thinly
populated district. The house was
filled with mulattoes and negroes OF
all shades from that OF a new saddle
to pot black. Tho ferryman was
preparing for spring work on his
farm. so there was no room for mo.
Two colored men rowed mo across
the river and going up the bank |
soon found by the starlight road.
which followed but short distance
when my way was barred by fence.
As hoped to strike the road again at
another point | turned OF into an
apparently new road in the woods,
but soon in the darkness lost my
landmark the fence. and my way, too.
To stay In the woods on very cold
April night was not desirable. so
listened earnestly 70: some sound OF
human habitation as the growing OF a
cock or the barking OF dog that
would lead me TO house. Standing
there in that impressive silence of
the woods at night there came at
length welcome sound a low laugh
as from tho distance from some
negro hut perhaps but better to sit
up at night even in negro shanty.
than 10 stumble around in the dark
ness in the strange depths of the
Usage woods. i started in the direc-
tion, travelled some distance and lis.
tened again for repetition OF the
sound, when ddenIy right over
head, arose that unearthly blood.
curdling fiendish laughter.
/ have stood face TO face with a
furious maniac and looked on his
glaring. bloodshot eyes lips lecked
with foam face of a cadaverous hue
and heard his forced. souIless laughter
until it seemed as if more in contact
with some hideous demon than man;
yet to me that night that horrid
laughter of the laughing owl was a
greater strain on the nerves than the
demoniac laughter Of the maniac.
However the laughing owl had
done me good turn in bringing me
back to the road again. for his voice
was the low laughter in the distance
first heard. | climbed over the
fence followed the road about mile. |
reused up tho inmates OF a farm
house and was comfortably lodged
| have examined works on natural
history but cannot find any discrip. |
ton or picture of the laughing owl |
AS | never saw him he exists in |
and not imagination only as
some imp OF darkness.