69 lines
4.4 KiB
Text
69 lines
4.4 KiB
Text
The Owl
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Two or three hundred years ago, when people were far from being so
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crafty and cunning as they are now-a-day, an extraordinary event took
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place in a little town. By some mischance one of the great owls, called
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horned owls, had come from the neighboring woods into the barn of one
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of the townsfolk in the night-time, and when day broke did not dare to
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venture forth again from her retreat, for fear of the other birds,
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which raised a terrible outcry whenever she appeared. In the morning
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when the man-servant went into the barn to fetch some straw, he was so
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mightily alarmed at the sight of the owl sitting there in a corner,
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that he ran away and announced to his master that a monster, the like
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of which he had never set eyes on in his life, and which could devour a
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man without the slightest difficulty, was sitting in the barn, rolling
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its eyes about in its head. "I know you already," said the master, "you
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have courage enough to chase a blackbird about the fields, but when you
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see a dead hen lying, you have to get a stick before you go near it. I
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must go and see for myself what kind of a monster it is," added the
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master, and went quite boldly into the granary and looked round him.
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When, however, he saw the strange grim creature with his own eyes, he
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was no less terrified than the servant had been. With two bounds he
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sprang out, ran to his neighbours, and begged them imploringly to lend
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him assistance against an unknown and dangerous beast, or else the
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whole town might be in danger if it were to break loose out of the
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barn, where it was shut up. A great noise and clamour arose in all the
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streets, the townsmen came armed with spears, hay-forks, scythes, and
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axes, as if they were going out against an enemy; finally, the senators
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appeared with the burgomaster at their head. When they had drawn up in
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the market-place, they marched to the barn, and surrounded it on all
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sides. Thereupon one of the most courageous of them stepped forth and
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entered with his spear lowered, but came running out immediately
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afterwards with a shriek and as pale as death, and could not utter a
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single word. Yet two others ventured in, but they fared no better. At
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last one stepped forth; a great strong man who was famous for his
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warlike deeds, and said, "You will not drive away the monster by merely
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looking at him; we must be in earnest here, but I see that you have all
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tuned into women, and not one of you dares to encounter the animal." He
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ordered them to give him some armour, had a sword and spear brought,
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and armed himself. All praised his courage, though many feared for his
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life. The two barn-doors were opened, and they saw the owl, which in
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the meantime had perched herself on the middle of a great cross-beam.
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He had a ladder brought, and when he raised it, and made ready to climb
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up, they all cried out to him that he was to bear himself bravely, and
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commended him to St. George, who slew the dragon. When he had just got
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to the top, and the owl perceived that he had designs on her, and was
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also bewildered by the crowd and the shouting, and knew not how to
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escape, she rolled her eyes, ruffled her feathers, flapped her wings,
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snapped her beak, and cried, "Tuwhit, tuwhoo," in a harsh voice.
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"Strike home! strike home!" screamed the crowd outside to the valiant
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hero. "Any one who was standing where I am standing," answered he,
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"would not cry, strike home!" He certainly did plant his foot one rung
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higher on the ladder, but then he began to tremble, and half-fainting,
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went back again.
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And now there was no one left who dared to put himself in such danger.
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"The monster," said they, "has poisoned and mortally wounded the very
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strongest man among us, by snapping at him and just breathing on him!
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Are we, too, to risk our lives?" They took counsel as to what they
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ought to do to prevent the whole town being destroyed. For a long time
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everything seemed to be of no use, but at length the burgomaster found
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an expedient. "My opinion," said he, "is that we ought, out of the
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common purse, to pay for this barn, and whatsoever corn, straw, or hay
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it contains, and thus indemnify the owner, and then burn down the whole
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building, and the terrible beast with it. Thus no one will have to
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endanger his life. This is no time for thinking of expense, and
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niggardliness would be ill applied." All agreed with him. So they set
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fire to the barn at all four corners, and with it the owl was miserably
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burnt. Let any one who will not believe it, go thither and inquire for
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himself.
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