Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-11
CHAPTER ~
Mrs. SCrpech Owl Grows


DLIE + HERON gazcd doubtfully upon
- Mrs. Scrcoch Owl. He didu t
fancy her looks a biz and he was very
sure the birds couldn't make her over
t" suit him.
II don't believe want 10 get mar
ricd today" h" rroakcd dsmaIIy. IRA
rather GO fishing"
"Rut want 10 get married,
Shrickod Mrs. Srrrcch Owl And here
arc all tho birds 10 soc the wedding.
You must marry me.
"Y"S. You mu>r marry hor." sang
the birds in n chorus. I'VE will make
her over into n lovely bride.
Jack and Janet were ssorry for Blue
Heron hc looked 50 wocbcgonc and un
comfortable. Bur they were anxious
to So" what kind Of a job tho birds
would do in making Mrs. Scroech Uwl
into a lovely bride.
''rh" bird marry must have n long,
straight beak like mine said Blue
Heron. 1t happened that Mrs. Srrccch
Owls hcHk was short and hooked.
The birds puzzled over tho problem
for som" minutes. They couldn't 500
any way of Strengthening or stretching
Mrs. Scrcech Owls stubby, crooked bill
The longer they studied the matter the
more hopeful Blue Heron became. II"
though, h" might escape marrying the
fussy little widow.
The bird thar puzzled hardest was
King Fisher. He and Blue Heron both
liked to fish and often they wanted To-
fish in the sam" place. King Fisher
thought il Bin" Heron married Mrs.
Scrcech Owl hc might move away from
the river. King Fisher was p wise bird
and whiI" ho puzzled his brain he used
his eyes seeking a long. straigh, bcak
for Mrs SCreerh Owl. Ar last hr
found il. II" lot out an cXulting cry:
"Ratttiy ratt"ly- -reak.
ll"rr'~ iu~r the Thing for bcak
What hc had found was tho cud Of
Il hr"kcu ti~hp0l" to which line was
,ti.I fastened Yes. It was just the
thiug for n bcak. The birds and Juck
and Janet agreed 10 that.
Jack had NkilIful fingers. and il took
him only minute t" split IN" end Of
the fish lol" and tic it TO Mrs Scrocrk
owl. srubby bill
"Whnt q fine bill" sang tho birds.
"Now Blu" Heron has the kind Of a
brid" he wants.
But Blue Heron wasn't 50 easily sat.
ishnd. "NO. no." he cried "My
bride must be as big around As am. -
Thar was another problem. for Mrs
Srrccch Owl was much smaller than
Blue Heron How could they make ter
rs hIg around as het
If it wcr" Thanksgiving time We
might stuff her for big dinner" sug
gcstod Jack.
"Or if she were balloon We might
blow her ny, added Janet.
"Mayhc "" can blow her WI any =
waN. >aid Jack. "Ior'S try"
, lie got n straw and ,Ianor GOT IA straw.
Then they blew through the hollow fish
pole bcak. As they blew Mrs. Screcch
owl grew larger and larger. JUST like
balloon Bur when they stopped r.
get more breath the air rushed ont
through the hcak in a loud whistle
Again they blew, and again rs they
stopped the air rushed out.
"SAy.' cried General Swallow. "why
not make her large from tho outside
like Il man putting on an "v"rCoa, "I'l
give her Il feather 50 will -
rhirpcd Corky Robin. "\nd / and ."
sang other birds. Feathers ranrd down
ON Mrs. Srro"rh Owl until she was al
most buried.
"Ilow shall We faslen them on"
asked Jack. I'VE haven't needle anc
thread to sew them
Just at that moment Janet happcne,
10 lean against pine tree. She fell
something sticky. 1t was pine PITCH
"IIurrah. she cried. I'VE can faster
them on wirH sticky pitch,
And 80 they did, sticking the cxtri
feathers to Mr.. ScrcP"h Owls owl
feathers, aud adding layer on layer un,i
she was aS large around as Blue IIcror
himself. Then they took her 10 til,
water edge to show her to Blue Heron
What Blue Heron thought Of hel
will lR told tomorrow. s"lE 80 y.