The Owl

Two or three hundred years ago, when people were not nearly as clever and sneaky as they are today, something very strange happened in a small town. By accident, one of the great owls—called a horned owl—had flown from the nearby woods into a farmer's barn during the night. When morning came, the owl did not dare to leave her hiding place because the other birds would make a terrible fuss if they saw her.

In the morning, the farmhand went into the barn to get some straw. He was so scared when he saw the owl sitting in a corner that he ran away and told his master that a monster was in the barn—a monster like he had never seen before, one that could eat a man without any trouble.

"I know you," said the master. "You are brave enough to chase a blackbird across the fields, but when you see a dead hen, you need a stick before you go near it. I will go and see this monster for myself." And he went boldly into the barn and looked around.

But when he saw the strange, scary creature with his own eyes, he was just as frightened as the servant. He jumped out in two leaps, ran to his neighbors, and begged them to help him fight a dangerous unknown beast. Otherwise, the whole town might be in danger if it escaped from the barn. A huge uproar filled the streets. The townspeople came with spears, pitchforks, scythes, and axes, as if they were going to war. Finally, the town councilors arrived with the mayor at the front.

They gathered in the marketplace, then marched to the barn and surrounded it. One of the bravest men stepped forward and went in with his spear ready, but he came running right back out again, screaming and as pale as death, unable to speak.

Two others tried, but they had no better luck. At last, a big strong man who was famous for his courage in battle stepped forward. "You won't scare the monster away just by looking at it," he said. "We have to be serious.

But I see you've all turned into women—none of you dares to face the animal." He asked for armor, a sword, and a spear, and put them on. Everyone praised his bravery, though many feared for his life.

They opened both barn doors and saw the owl, which had perched on a big beam in the middle. The man had a ladder brought. As he raised it and got ready to climb, the crowd shouted for him to be brave and called on Saint George, who killed the dragon. But when he reached the top, the owl saw that he meant harm. Startled by the crowd and the noise, and not knowing how to escape, the owl rolled its eyes, ruffled its feathers, flapped its wings, snapped its beak, and cried out in a harsh voice: "Tuwhit, tuwhoo!"

"Strike! Strike!" screamed the crowd outside to the brave hero. "Anyone standing where I am," he answered, "would not shout 'Strike!'" He did put his foot on the next rung of the ladder, but then he started to shake and, half-fainting, climbed back down.

Now no one dared to take such a risk. "The monster," they said, "has poisoned and wounded our strongest man just by snapping at him and breathing on him! Should we risk our lives too?" They discussed what to do to keep the whole town from being destroyed.

For a long time nothing seemed to help, but finally the mayor had an idea. "I think," he said, "we should use the town's money to pay for this barn and all the corn, straw, and hay inside it.

Then we can burn down the whole building with the terrible beast in it. That way no one has to risk his life. This is no time to worry about expense; being cheap would be wrong." Everyone agreed.

So they set the barn on fire from all four corners, and the owl was burned to death. If anyone doesn't believe it, they can go there and ask for themselves.