Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-10
Teacher, Teacher,
Teacher!

Schoolmaster Owl was walking in
the woods one evening, when suddenly
he heard some one calling him. Mr..
Owl was not feeling happy. His pupils
had been behaving badly all the week,
and this made him really very cross
Again he heard some one calling
loudly and very fast, Teacher, teacher
teacher. teacher, teacher" really
screaming.
Now Mr. Owl had often told his pu-
pills to address him as "Mr. OWL and
never on any account to call out
Teacher, teacher" so he at once be-
came very angry. He looked about for
"a little stick with which to punish the
offending pupil!
Before he could find one there walk
ed UP to him little bird with spot
ted breast. who said again, Teacher.
teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher"
Then Schoolmaster Owl saw that the
offender was not one of his pupils but
Mrs. Ovenbird. well what in The
world do you want?" he asked severely
glazing at the little bird out of his big
round eyes.
ooh. teacher, teacher, you know
everything, don't you?" asked the little
bird.
well, perhaps not quite everything
said Mr.. Owl, feeling rather pleased:
"but there are good many things l
do know"
ooh, teacher, teacher, teacher, teach
err. teacher, do tell me something! I'm
nearly distra cted"
IF you didn't scream so loudly you
wouldn't be-" returned Mr.. Owl. Sc
verely. But what is 1t you want to
know"
"Oh, can't make up my mind =
can't make up my mind where to build
my nest"
"Why not?' demanded Mr.. Owl. He
looked more closely at the little bird.
She was dressed in an olive colored
coat and her light vest was spotted
and streaked with black. On her head
she wore an orange cap bordered with
black. She walked along the ground.
instead of hopping, the way most of
the orchard people did. Mr.. Owl
thought she was very, very folish
person.
But Mrs. Ovenbird was not foolish
person. She we'll knew that Mr.. Owl
was not always kind to little birds, that
many feared him and all his tribe -
she had even heard stories Of his car
rying off small birds; but she had also
heard that no one was wiser than he.
So, in trouble, she had overcome her
fears and come to him for advice.
''Why not?" demanded Mr.. Owl
again. "Why can't you make up your
mind where to build your nest?'
"Why because I'm SO afraid my enc
mics will find it," cried Mrs. Oven.
bird.
"You might hide it UP in the big
birchtree." said Mr.. Owl.
"Oh, dear, no. The crows and Jaws
and cats would be sure to find it there.
And you know what they do to nests"
"Then build it farther back in the
woods. The Perkins cat seldom goes
so far
ooh, oh, I'm afraid the squirrels will
come back to the woods. You know
what squirrels do to nests
ooh, the squirrels! Grandma Chick.
adee seems to have lived, in spite OF
the squirrels, for some years. They
won't come back very soon. after the
way the birds whipped them this
spring. But why don't you pvt yo'r
nest way out on the tip Of an elm tree
branch, then no squirrel could get 1t.
Mrs. Ovenbird shook her head. Lady
Baltimore Orioe is the only Eird VINO
knows how to hang nest out on the
tip Of an elm tree branch, and fasten II
so it won't blow off. Besides, black
snakes climb trees. and you know what
snakes do to nests and little birds"
Schoolmaster Owl thought little. Il
believe you'd better build it on the
ground" he said There are no minks
or muskrats round here to disturb
ground nests.
But at that the little bird began to
scream again. "Oh, teacher, teacher.
teacher, teacher! Don't YOU know If
put it on the ground the boy will find
it? And you know what boys do to
nests"
Pooh, pooh!" said schoonhaster
Owl. Very few boys are cruel enough
to harm the nest of little bird who
has so many enemies. They sometimes
help guard such nests
But don't know about the boy who
comes through the woods on his way
to school. He may be cruel. shouldn't
want him to know where my nest was.
Where can hide it? Where can hide
it? He has bright eyes
Schoolmaster Owl looked very wise.
"Yes, boys have bright eyes, but they
seldom know how to use them ne
said. "Now don't worry. I'll tell you
where to put your nest so no boy will
find It,"
ooh, where?"
Schoolmaster Owl blnked one round
eve and then the other, then bent ms
head and whispered something to the
little bird. T.,
oh. thank you, thank you! That IS
queer, she said, but I'll try It," And
off she walked as happy as could ne.
few weeks later, Mr.. owl was
walking in the woods again, when 1T
tie bird ran up to him.
ooh, it's you, is it," he asked. We'll
how about the nest?'
ooh it's perfectly safe! It's safe as
can bel sang little Mrs. Ovenbird joy
fully. TT has a little roof over 1t, and
a door on one side"
"And has the boy found 1.-THE boy
with the bright eyes?' laughed School
master Owl
ooh, my, no! Oh, Mr. Owl, how wise
Won are!" said Mrs. Ovenbird.
Schoolmaster Owl, much pleased
puffed out his feathers. And where die
o L r1r