New Britain herald., 1929-01-22

Never in all his life had Spooky
the Screech Owl been more thank
full. You see. he had almost given
up hope OF finding shelter from the
snow and wind. when he had actual
ly been blown against Farmer
Browns barn and had accidentally
discovered one Of the little doorways
which had been cut for pigeons
away up near the roof. No pigeons
were kept In the barn now. Spooky
had hung on with all his might and
finally pulled himself UP and through
that little doorway. Such long
breath as he drew then! 1t was
warm in there. Rough Brother
North Wind could not reach him.
He was out Of the wind and out Of
the snow.
For few moments Spooky sat
quietly just inside. He was trying
to get his breath. Also, he was try
ing to adjust his eyes. You see. ne
had been more than half blinded by
the snow. Spooky's eyes are made
for seeing in the dark. OF course.
he cannot see in absolute darkness.
but he can see in darkness that you
and I cannot see in. SO after few
moments spooky few over to a
rafter high UP in the roof.
"Ail / want now Is to rest and
Sleep" thought spooky. He forgot
that 1t was long time since he
had had anything to eat. He for
got that there was such thing as
hunger. Rest and sleep were the
two things that Spooky wanted more
than anything else. This was a
wonderful place for both. He fluff
ed his feathers out and shook GU:
the snow that had been driven into
them. Then he settled himself into
. comfortable position and almost
a. quickly as you could wink your
eye he went to sleep.
6pooky slept nearly all night. That
was because he had been so thor
oughly tired by his fight against the
wind and the snow. The truth ts.
had he not found that refuge when
he did. the storm probably would
have been too niue, for Spooky and
he would have died out in it. So
he slept and slept, and 1t was not
until morning that Spooky awoke.
Strange sounds awoke him. His eyes
new open In startled surprise. For
q moment or two he couldn't imag-
Inc where he was. Away down be-
low him there was a stamping of
boots. Farmer Browns horses were
impatiently awaiting their breakfas:.
Farmer Browns Boy was moving
about down there. He was getting
hay and grain for the horses and
COWS and doing his regular morning
work. He was whistling, for when
he is working Farmer Browns Boy
delights to whistle. Spooky could
see all this very clearly, for UP
where he was the light was dim.
whereas down below it was not SO
dim.
Outside the storm was still IN
progress. Spooky could hear Rough
Brother North Wind bowling around
the barn. When Farmer Brown
opened the barn door and entered
snow blew in with him. But inside
that big barn it was as il there were
no such things as storms. 1t was
warm and comfortable and peace.ul
Spooky suddenly became aware
that he was very, very hungry. II
seemed to him just then that never
had he been quite so hungry. III
only / had something to eat
thought Spooky. Il would make
myself at home here. Yes, sir, that
u just what / would do. ! guess
I'll have to do it anyway. for l am
certainly not going out in this storm
pow. But ! do wish there was some
Thing to eat in here
AS II In answer to that wish
pooky heard a squeak. 1t was I
faint squeak. but those wonderfu
9ars of Spooky's heard it. Such q
THAT was a mouse" said Sp00ky
under his breath
ehanse as came over Spooky then.
He turned his head in The direction
from which that sound had come
Ind hts eyes were very round and
Gg.