Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-11
Mr.. OWL MAKES VISIT,
BUT DECLINES SUPPER

shades had not been pulled down,
n when Esther, who was seated
near the window, suddenly called.
"Oh, the cutest owl right on the rail-
ing of the porch
The rest of the family, Jack and Ella
and mamma. came to the window and
looked out.
There he sat, a fluffy gray owl, not
more than six feet away from them.
He turned his head this way and that,
shook out his feathers and stared
straight at the window without SEEM
ing to so much as notice the group of
people who were watching him so
eagerly.
81 should think he'd be afraid" said
Jack: we're so near"
HE does not see u.s." mamma an
swered. I'VE are standing by bright
light, you know. and the owl can only
see where it is dark. Don't you re-
member"
"Oh. YES" answered Jack; "but how
funny 1t seems"
probably he has come for his sup
per-or L wonder if 1t his breakfast"
Esther exclaimed. with laugh. He
is a boarder we had not seen before"
Quite near to the railing the children
nau SuSpeuuSu IL ldIBc piece VI 0uSl Wy
q wire from the branch of tree, and
different birds had found ii a very
convenient place to take their meals.
The whole family had enjoyed watch
ing their shy feathered boarders, but
they had not seen the owl before, for,
of course, he made his visits at night.
''He looks as wise as those owls at
the zoo that they used to call the su-
preme bench, doesn't he, mamma?'
said Jack.
"Yes, dear, / remember them," re-
piled his mother; "they were all in
row along a perch, and seemed to be
deciding some important question of
law"
Pretty soon Ella slipped into the next
room, which was not lighted, thinking
that she could see the owl better from
the darker room. She had not been
at the window more than minute,
however, when the owl twisted his
head that way, and instead of turning
away with indifference, as he had when
he looked into the lighted window, he
at once changed his whole attitude and
stared stealthily at her, his eyes show
ing plainly that he saw her and was
watching ready for instant flight.
"Oh, forgot he could see me at the
dark window" Esther said to herself,
and she hardly breathed she was so
afraid of frightening him.
"He sees you! He sees you!" ex-
claimed the others, noticing the differ
ence in the OWLS appearance. But
after minute, seeing that she did not
stir, the little owl turned his head
away, and before he could look again,
Ella slipped back into the lighted room.
The owl stayed for some time, and
then, without thinking, mamma
stepped close in front of the lamp,
throwing the window into shadow. In
a moment the group of children be-
came visible to the owl for the first
time, and with a quick spreading of
his wings he was gone.
HE didn't stay for his supper" said
Jack, dolefully, but mamma assured
him that the owl would undoubtedly
come back while they were asleep and
eat all that he wanted.
Never fear but that the crafty old
fellow will get enough to satisfy his
hunger" said she, with laugh. Il
am only afraid that we shall find some
of the occupants of the poultry YARD
missing tomorrow morning, for .owls
are fond of dainty morsel IN the way
of a nice fat hen"
"Oh. mammal! would he really kill
the chickens?" asked Esther, whose
special pets they were. "Then l don't
like him one bit"
"Well," said Esther, turning away
from the window, 81 have always heard
that owls could see in the dark and
not in the light, but never really
knew 1t before. How very odd it
seems" And all of the children felt
as though they had been permitted to
take a personal peep into one of
Mother Natures mystery boxes.-Bos-
ton Traveller.
Rohhvss Unfortunate Delav