New Britain herald., 1929-01-21

spooky the Screech Owl was liv-
ing in the Old Orchard. You know,
he had lived in the Old Orchard
for long time. There was a GER
tain apple tree with q nice COM
portable hollow in 1t. which Spooky
called his own. Farmer Browns
10y knew all about Spo0ky and
that hollow. So when the trees were
being trimmed and holes filled.
Farmer Browns Boy would not
touch that hollow.
OF course, you know that Spooky,
like other members OF his family,
hunts at night. Sometimes, on a
dark, gloomy day. he starts out
hunting in the middle of the after
noon. This 10 especially true when
food is scarce and 1t takes q great
deal of hunting In order to get
enough to eat. This is what Spooky
had done on the day when one Of
the worst storms Of the winter
started. He had had no luck and he
had flown farther than usual in his
search for = stray mouse, or an UNI
wary small bird. 90 he was some
little distance from home when the
storm started. At first he didn't
mind the snow, but presently he
discovered that Rough Brother
North Wind was blowing so hard
that 1t was difficult to fly and the
snow was rather binding. 1t was
high time for him to be back home.
He started. He had to fly right into
the wind and. presently. he real
lied that he was making very little
progress. Rough Brother North
Wind blew him off his course. In
spite Of all he could do he could not
reach the Old Orchard. Yet he must
reach it. At least, that is what he
thought. You see, he didn't think
Of any other shelter where he could
stay until the storm was over.
The snow grew thicker and thick
er. Presently. Spooky couldn't tell
where he was at all. All he could
do was to guess as to his direction
and beat and beat with his wings,
and hope that he was heading for
the Old Orchard. Sometimes Rough
Brother North Wind would let up
blowing for a few minutes and
Spooky would gain little. Then
Rough Brother North Wind would
howl and roar and blow again, and
poor Spooky would be blown off his
course.
At last 1t seemed to Spooky that
he couldn't fly another minute. I'll
just have to give up" he said to
himself. I'll just nave to give up.
I cannot face this storm any long
er. l guess this will be the end of
poor little me-
1t was just then that he saw
something big through the binding
snow. He couldn't make out what it
was. but there was some object Just
ahead Of him. Perhaps he could
find shelter behind it. so, with new
courage he beat his way toward 1t.
1t was Farmer Browns barn. Yes,
sir. it was Farmer Browns barn.
Rough Brother North Wind was
bowling and twisting around that
barn and it was all Spooky could
do to keep from being dashed
against it. At the time he didn't
recognize 1t as Farmer Browns
barn.
I'm try to get around on the
other side and perhaps I can find
shelter there" said Spooky to him
self.
1t was at that very instant that
one wing brushed against some
thing. He disc overed that it was n
little platform and just back of it
was a hole. With all his might he
chung to that platform. Rough
Brother North Wind did his best TO
blow him off, but Spooky chung.
When he could get his breath he
managed TO pull himself W and
creep through that little hole Such
a relief as he experienced them He