Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-12

Now, Shadow you little sinner make Gertrude for
turn Your little head as move this spoon That's
right; quite around. Some time l shall forget, and
keep moving the spoon in the direction and you
will wiring your own little head off. Now you may
do your spoon stunt for Gertrude"
usual dgn;ty D'' turning f eock face as she called
it. toward Gertrude until for laughing she forgot to
The little owl never attempted to y BY day. even
when Edith darened the room. but during tire evening
study-hour Edith would often pause in her writing TO
watch him first stretch up tall and think about flying
and then venture his little wings His fight, how
ever swift and noseless though at first he did not
on the smooth wide chairbacks Later all was accom-
Pshed so silently that Edith would often be unable to
locate him when she wished to put him back in his box
Sometimes however, the little owl would reveal his
whereabouts by rapidly swapping his bill together when
object in his path aroused his uncertain temper
Il have been poking. Shadow out from under the
he hates this umbrella" Edith explained to Gertrude
Shadow and TO ask the cause of such continued snap
rings, ,.
for lack OF sleep for after few evenings OF fittings
Shadow showed his true owl nature and many times
some obpect brushed down by his wings, by the
thurnp of his body against the mirror.
Now. Shadow I Il put this orange branch Up like
tree and You must perch on and keep more quiet at
night and let poor get little sleep-are listen
after night Of cat maps. For reply Shadow snapped
very hard though he knew he was being scoded,
That evening thinking that moonlight walk might
dispose the restless baby to quiet night, Edith took
Shadow all about the peTChcd He
did not offer to fly. but contentediy about and
when returned his branch perch he quiet
until the lights turned out when he became very
Soon Edith slipped from her bed and found the little
bird, and cuddled him against her cheek. talking to
him the while.
"Oh, Shadow dear, if you are not happy here sup
pose must soon give you up but love you and am
have been here now week That is very little while,
and you will have months perhaps years, to be
up owPoor birdie you are asleep and hearing nothing
I saying and sadly Edith slipped Shadow onto
his perch. and went back to bed
That night Edith was awakened soon after midnight
by hearing Shadows claws the window shade. She
got to prevent him from hurting himself, and
in the dim moonlight could just discern him clingng
to the shade He Seemed grateful however to perch on
her finger but she could quiet him, and he kept
making little squeaking calls.
and open your poor little mouth very wide Ques
toned Edith anxously as still holding the little owl
Edith had been quiet but moment when she heard
gentle stirring among the branches of the oak-tree
sweet note, and bravcly little Shadow answered,
oh, I've lost you, my precious pet" Edith bTeathsd
earess did not quiet the little bird as always before
Edith turned her head to look more closely among
large owl with noiseess wing had dropped the wide
window ledge. and sitting, still and dim, and
ing with great mysterious eyes into the room.
Startled she was. Edith noted with surprise that
the old bird twice tall the baby that Edith
had supposed almost fu-grown, pretty and perfect
Some movement OF Edit1's in making ready raise
the heard by the owl without. and with
sound it disappeared into the oak branches and again
repeated the low sweet note.
Edith opened the screen and after tenderly kissing
the little bird she held out beyond the ledge Wee
Shadow spread his little wings and flew right toward
All" exclaimed Edith under her breath after listen
ing moment to Shadows excited squeaks, for another
large owl dropped down into the oak branches. and
Shadow ceased his little cries; Edith could Just discern
the old bird feeding him
'They are happy, and I helped them, anyhow"
said Edith