The state herald., 1892-12-30
THE OWL LAUGHED.
The BIRD Of Wisdom Induigss In Little
XolaA.

Over twenty years ago travelling
on foot through q rough section In tho
eastern part OF Missouri, l found my
self toward sunset In = solid German
settlement
They almost without exception
keep cross dogs-usually bulldogs OF
savage feroclty. often dangerous for
their owners II approached after being
loosened from their chains at
nightfall. For this reason 1t was
hazardous to 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-
Tho shaded OF night were gathering
when saw with pleasure the light Of
q campfire shining In two white COW
cred emigrant wagons In the woods
down below the road was travelling.
They proved to be Americans and
whom told them how / was situated
they gavo me q friendly welcome. and
We passed a pleasant evening by that
campfire.
After We retired TO rest and per-
feet quiet reigued In the camp there
arose on the still night air the most
hideous disbolical laughter that ever
greeted the ears OF mortal man. The
boy lying beside mo made a fair imi.
tation OF the sound. What is itP"
asked. That" said tho father
is u laughing owl; the boy is mocking
1t In his sleep"
!. Sometime Altar still prospecting In
Missouri reached after dark fer
ry-house and which was also q tav.
ern on the Usage river in thinly
populated district The house was
filed with mulattoes and negroes OF
all shades from that Of 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 tho bank
soon found by the starlight road.
which followed but n short distance
when my way was barred by fence.
As l hoped to strike the road again at
another point turned of into an
apparently now road In tho woods
but soon In The darkness lost my
landmark the fence, and my way. too
10 stay In the woods on very cold
April night was not desirable so l
listened earnestly for some sound OF
human habitation ms the growing OF a
cock or the barking OF dog that
would lead me TO q house. Standing
Iilssa In that impressive silence OF
the woods at night thoro came n,
length welcome sound. n low laugh
as from the distance from some
negro hut perhapa but hotter to 81,
up at night even In negro shanty.
than TO stumble around In the dark
ness In the strange depths OF the
Usage woods. started in tho dlrec-
tion. travelled some distance and lis.
toned again for repetition OF the
sound. when suddenly. right over.
head. arose that unearthly. blood.
curdling fiendish laughter
have stood face to face with a
furious maniac and looked on his
glazing. bloodshot eyes lips necked
with foam face OF cadavcrous hue
aud heard his forced. soulless laughter
until 1t seemed as II mora In contact
with somo hidoous demon than n man;
yet to mo that night that horrid
laughter Of the laughing owl was a
greater strain on tho nerves than tho
domoniac laughter Of tho maniac.
However the laughing owl had
done mo u good turn In bringing me
back 70 the road again. for his voice
Eas tt,nlow laughter In the distance
" fhst hcurf. rifmbeti- over Tho
{ fenco Followed the road about mile
rouscd up the inmates OF farm
house and was comfortably lodged.
! have examined works on natural
history but cannot find any discrip.
ton or picture OF tho laughing owl
As ! mover saw him no exists In
memory and not Imagination only us
some imp OF darkness