THE LITTLE OWL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 532, 8 December 1928, Page 31

THE LITTLE OWL

“Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock!” “What’s that?” asked the little owl. “Time,” said his father. That was the day the little owl first knew that his home was in the church tower, just below the clock that ticked. He liked to hear it. He liked the bells on Sunday, too, for then they went “Chim-cbime, chim-chime,” up in the tower above him. Then there came a day when he found that he could fly, and he felt very proud of himself. Every evening just as it was growing dark, Mr. and Mrs. Owl, would stand on the edge of the nest, with their baby between them, ready to start out to seek their supper. But one night his father and mother stood on the edge of the nest as usual, and he squeezed himself in between them all ready to start, when, to his surprise, his father said, “Not to-night, my son.” Then Mr. and Mrs. Owl flew off without him. The little owl did not like being left behind. He thought it was very hard to be left alone when he was not a bit sleepy, and so hungry for his supper. “I shall go by myself,” he said. So he flew away to the sycamore tree. There he perched while he decided where next to go. “I’ll go to the barn on the hillside,” he said to himself. The door stood wide open when he flew in, and he perched on a beam of the roof and looked round him, listening very hard. Soon there would be plenty of mice. He waited. Then someone came down the yard and shut the door with a bang. It was very dark, but the little owl did not mind that. He could see better now that the door was closed, but he was rather afraid of being there all by himself, for he was not quite sure how to get out again. “Tu-whit, tu-whoo,” he called. Perhaps someone would hear him. He did it again. Then the door opened, and in came a man with a lantern, and carrying a little girl in his arms. “Hook Betty.” he said, “there’s a dear little owl.” “What big eyes he has'.” said Betty. The little owl did not like being looked at, and the bright light dazzled his eyes. He longed to fly above their heads, through the doorway, and home. Then he heard the church clock chiming, and a far-off, “Tu-whit, tu-whoo!” came from the tower. “Tu-whit, tu-whoo!” he called in reply, and off he flew, away past the sycamore tree and to his home. Mr. and Mrs. Owl were so glad to see their little son that they quite forgot to scold him, and soon he was telling them all that had happened as they sat in the snug nest together, while above them the clock ticked busily on. One of these days the little owl will be big and wise like his parents, and then they will have no fears for him. MAGIC There was a little man who played a cheery tune; He sat upon a fallen tree and played it to the moon. The moon cried, “How entrancing!” The people cried, “What fun!” And everyone was dancing until the tune was done.