The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-30
THE LAUGHING OWL.
The Little Nonsense Sometimes Heard
Proceeding From This Wisest Bird.


Proceeding From This Wisest Bird.
From the Kansas CITY Times
Over twenty years ago, travelling on foot
through a rough section in the eastern part
of Missouri, l found myself toward sunset
in a solid German settlement. They almost
without exception keep cross dogs, usually
bulldogs of savage ferocity, often danger
GUS for their owners if approached after
being loosened from their chains at night
fall. For this reason IL was hazardous to
travel after sunset. 80 began au hour be-
fore shutdown to find a lodging place for the
night, but the Germans either could not or
would not understand me. The shades Of
night we're gathering when / saw with
pleasure the light of a campfire shining on
two white-covered emigrant wagons in the
woods down below the road was travelling
They proved to be Americans. and when l
told them how l was situated they gave me
a friendly welcome, and we passed pleas
ant evening by that campfire.
After we retired TO rest, and perfect quiet
reigned in the camp, there arose on the
still night air the most hideous, diabolical
laughter that ever greeted the ears of NOR
tai man. The boy lying beside me made
fair imitation Of the sound. "What is itr'
1 asked. THAT said the father, sis @
laughing owl; the boy is mocking it in his
sleep"
Some time after, still prospecting in Mis-
souri,, reached after dark ferry house
and which was also a tavern, on the Usage
river, in thinlY populated district. The
house was filled with mulattoes and negroes
of all shades, from that OF new saddle to
pot black. The ferryman was preparing
for spring work on his farm 30 there was no
room for me. Two negroes rowed me across
the river, aud going up the bank l soon
found by the starlight a road which 1 fol-
lowed but short dis ance. when my way
was barred by fence AS hoped to strike
the road again at another point, l turned
off into an apparently new road in the
woods, but soon in the darkness lost nv
landmark, the fence and my way, too.
To stay in the woods on very cold April
night was not desirable, 30 | listened ear
nestly for some sound of n human habita-
ton, as the Growing of a cock or barking Of
a dog, that would lead me T. house. Stand
ing there In that impressive silence of the
woods at night there came at length a well
come sound, q low laugh as from distance,
from some negro hut, perhaps, but better to
sit up at night, even in negro shanty. than
to stumble around in the darkness in the
strange depths Of the Usage woods started
in the direction, travelled some distance and
listened again for a repetition OF the sound,
when suddenly, right overhead, arose that
unearshly, blood cuTdling, feadish laugh
ter.
have stood face to face with a furious
maniac and looked on his glazing, bloodshot
eyes, lips hecked with foam, face of a cadav-
erous hue, and heard his forced, soulless
laughter until 1t seemed as if more in con-
tact 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 mo
good turn In bringing me back 20 the road
again, for his voice was the low laughter in
the distance I first heard. / climbed over
the fence, followed the road about u nlile
reused up the inmates of a farm, house, and
was comfortably lodged.
! have examined works on natural bis
tory, but cannot find any description or
picture of the laughing owl. As l never
saw him. he exists in memory and my i'm
agination only as some imp Of darkness.