Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-28
Little Billy Natural History
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BIZ RALPH WILBUR
when 1t comes to that" he sighed a.
his head sank deep in the pillow. and his
| eyes closed Comes to WHAT asked the
stuffed owl from the manteipiece.
| Hello! I didn't know you could tall"
| said the boy.
.@And when it comes to that" said the
owl. there are q good many other things
| you don't know. Shall give you a list Of
!, some OF them?s
Please don'tis he exclaimed. Mamma
| and papa and the teacher give me a list
/ most every day. It's just this. I'm In q
natural history class. and tomorrow I'm
4 to tell what bird or animal consider the
i most intelligent. and was thinking
Pooh. pooh. interrupted the owl. "haye
| we been room mates so long without your
learning that I'm the very wisest OF all
/ OF them? Why every one knows that the
| owls the symbol OF wisdom. and whyf
| Well, I'll explain.
with cackIe, neigh. bray or sausvk.
| All envy the owl who don't talk.
| So IL there's a prize to be given out.
Or beast on PEDESTAL put,
To the bird who can keep hts mouth shut
why, 1t follows. don't you see2 When
somebody says something whole lot OF
| other people try to prove he didn't know
| lot more that he did. and 30 they have It.
| hammer and tongs,' with no end to It.
but when they want something to represent
wisdom they select an owl. and why? Why.
| because he knows enough never to talk.
| except to ask the simple question. 'Whoof
| so they all agree he must be very wise
| "If that's the case" said Little BILLY.
then an oyster or clam must De wiser
| yet. for they never say anything. and who (,
| is 1t you ask about when you ask WHO'D?
| The first part Of your remarks was
silly" answered the owl In severe tone,
I 49, H. tarA
and CLAIMS don't talk. they are apt to keep
| their mouths open too much. which leads to
| their undoing. As to your question OF
| when folks come asking, Who did this or
by asking. .Whoof' And If they don't
| know they think do but I am too wise to
tell and II they do know 1t pleases them
| to be able to show their knowledge by tell
Ing me. Then say, Why, of course or
/ certainly. which conyinces them OF my
! wisdom, seer
Billy didn't exactly see. but he was too
! polite to say 80, and besides just then q
| donkey brayed a loud laugh poked his
head through the window. and said:
ls"Wa-at, wa-at. wa-at? Why, my nanny
| used to say, Ebenezer. make noise IN
| the world, and let folks know you're alive!
| Don't nope around like stupid old OWL
| He-hawi he-haw! he-hawi And yet they
| call stupid folks donkeys. Why, look at
| my earsl Aren't they longer than rab-
bits? And yet they call rabbits Wisel
yes. I've beautiful long ears.
| Much longer than Brer-Rabbh.
| And folks only say I'm stupid.
From very foolish habit
| ''But I'm not so very stupid.
For example, not 80 stupid
| As to get into stewl'
"He-haw! he-haw! How's thatf That's
| original. tell you r
Excuse me-" said timid voice. y
really can't be silent and hear myself COM
! pared to a donkey. I know people are said
| to be as mad as March hares.' but that's
only one month In the year, while some
people act like donkeys' or are as stupid
as owls all the year round. and besides
when 1t comes to ears. good neishbor
(And he bowed unto the donkey.
1t may be resemble you
More than do a monkey.
! ''But II you stop to reason.
Quite plainly you VIII see .
As I've scarcely any tail they cans
Make q monkey out OF me-
| Like they do of some folks 1 know Of when
| they pile heavy loads on them and beat
| them with sticks In spite of their long ears.
| Really, It's not the length Of our ears but
| the shortness of our tails that we are
| proud of. for really It's poor kind OF be-
| ing who goes around with sort of post
| script on. like letter which winds up:
P.S-PIease excuse mistakes and haste.
| And the rabbit turned up Its nose ana
| By this time Billy was 50 accustomed TO
strange sights and sounds that he was not
| surprised to hear monkey chatter from
d
of you? Make monkey of you? Why.
| you poor little conceited thing. II you were
put under q rolling pin and rolled ana
| stretched till you couldn't squeak. you
wouldn't even make the tail OF a monkey!
Don't t You 1 know through all the ages
Monkeys accounted wise
BY all the human sagesf
| Sand the stories people tell Of
| Our sense and cunning blended
| Have led the human folk to boast
That from tbey'ra descended,
Short tails, indeedl Dhy you talk like
| stupid owl, a donkey, a March hare and
goose all In one!''
Hiss! Hi-ssr' came from beneath the
| table, followed by q gooses neck and head.
| and a sorrowfui voice said, There 1t goes.
| there 1t goes again, It's bad enough to have
every stupid human kid called goose.
| but to have a rabbit called one is too
much" Then its voice grew louder and
hcarser as 1t squawked;
WHO was It In the ancient days
That walked the warriors from their sleep
| And saved them hearth and home7
WAS It an organ grinders monkf
Was It q brsying Donkey
Or stupid owls WHO'D
'No. twas none of them that gave alarm
And kept to Rome its peace;
Twas my greatgreat ancestors,
| A flock Of cackling geese!
talk about your long ears long tails.
| loud brays or silent ways! What the world
wants is long necks. necks long enough to
twist around and see danger from wher-
ever 1t comes, and, seeing it, have sense
enough to give the alarm! Why
That's all right" interrupted Billy. 'But
it's that am to name the wisest ANIMAL
and II you don't let me think I'll never
take prize, besides that l.
"You take prize!' exclaimed the dom
key why you little monkey, you"
"You mean the little donkey Is as mad
as a March hare. don't your remarked the
monkey severely.
He MEANS" said the rabbit, that the
little goose"
"I mean get out of here. all of you'll"
screamed Billy, and he threw something
which caused a crash, then voice called,
Billy Billie! What In the world Is the
matter UP there?''
ooh. nothing mamma" he answered.
'only guess l was dreaming and threw
my pillow across the room"
We'll. stop dreaming and go to sleep.
you silly coot," his mamma called back,
and as he rolled over to obey he murmured.
Silly coot, eh? Well. + glad the others
amt here to hear me called that
Miles of Locusts
From he npdf