Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-12-20
STUDIES In
NATURAL HISTORY
BY JAMES HENRY RICE, Jr.
THE souINcH OWL.

THE soUINcH OWL.
"Unker Wylie, is de Squinch owler
hantT was the question asked by q
small negro Of the old man, who was
plating horse collars out Of corn
shucks.
ITO be sho de Squinch Owl is a.
hant, one er de wuz dey is" said the
old mai., not looking up, zen wen yer
in de fab quick. OATS all I say"
Screech Owls had been unusually
numerous that year. They had invad-
ed the grove around the negro quarter,
and lively discussions ensued nightly
as to the precise meaning Of the visi-
tation.
Harrison said they were due to
spirits Of departed Indians. He boast
ed a trace Of Indian blood. This was
scornfully denied by other OLD negroes.
"Injun nothin," said Aunt Clarisey.
who was as broad as she ttes long.
desc yer hants come along ssence de-
war. Mebbe de Kukluxes sorit EN-;
amt know for sho; but dey come sencey
de war. Ma and pa bin tell me dey
never year so many Squinch Owls
nothin ter do wild 1t. Dat fool Harri-
son can't think o. nothin' but Injuns.y
Disturbed the Meeting.
Whatever the cause, the owls were
certainly numerous; and much disquiet
was caused by the fact that there was
protracted meeting on in q negro
church some miles away, to which the
plantation hands went at night. Going
through the dark woods, always a fear-
some Job, became all but unendurable
with the apria rriae 0f OwIc 4 ~
Old Wylie had kept his young master
informed of the conversation at the
quarters. He knew any how the dread
of Screech Owls among all negroes
so he determined to turn 1t to use.
When the big night Of the meeting
came, the plantation was left bare of
negroes. Every soul went that could
get there, even down to Sam, whose
rheumatism almost bent him double
and who moved with painful slowness.
The young master Of the plantation
got long white sheet and went into
the woods, near a pond. Along the
edge Of the pond the path led to and
from church.
When he first arrived, Screesh Owls
began fitting around him and swapping
their bills. Their cries attracted
others. Soon the woods rang with
their quavering calls, like lost spirits,
strayed in the dark.
The conjur Man.
Meantime the meeting broke and the
crowd Of negroes started home, stirred
nightly with the excitement. 'Cretia,
led the file, and behind came her hus-
band, Will. Sam hopped along In the
centre, being helped over rough places
Children ran In and out Of the grown
people. When they entered the woods
near the pond the owls were gathering
strength. The very air quavered and
trembled. ~.
Old Jack, a wizened dwarf Of eighty.
a native African, mumbled something
about the owls in jargon few could
| understand. All Of them feared Jack.
He was "cunjur man." and his pres
ence did not add to comfort with the
owl concert going on.
Lord "a -mussy," said Cretia, II
amt never year sech a fuss via
Squinch Owls. Wha mex usT'
you year wuss en- dat, ef you amt
mind said her husband, walk fas
Cretia."
The file was now full alongside the
pond, with owls fitting and tapping
overhead and every negro scared al
most stiff.
Just then, out Of the pond itself rose
white-sheeted ghost, with wings
wide spread.
Dash for Liberty.
Jerusalem! halleluiah! Lord-a-nus-
sy," yelled Cretia, darting forward as
she cried, but Will sped by her.
Young negroes, old negroes, men, wo-
men and children hit the woods and
sent leaves flying; 1t was steeple-
chase straight across country Sam
forgot the rheumatism and ran like a.
rabbit.
Behind them came swiftly the sheet-l
ed figure. Cretia fell exhausted in a.
ditch, crying aloud for mercy. Old
Jack dove behind a log and lay still.
Will ran until his wind gave out and
then fell prone in the road, believing
like a calf
How long 1t might have lasted and
with what result, II would be hard to
say; but the pursuer also had enough.
The fun was too much for him. He
broke into a loud laugh; and the
spell was off.