KING SOLOMON AND THE OWL

ONCE King Solomon was hunting all alone in the forest. Night fell, and King Solomon lay down under a tree to sleep. Over his head, on the branch of a tree, sat a huge Owl; and the Owl hooted so loud and so long, Too-whit too-woo! Too-whit too-woo! that Solomon could not sleep. Solomon looked up at the Owl, and said-- "Tell me, O Owl, why do you hoot all night long upon the trees?" Said the Owl-- "I hoot to waken those that sleep, As soon as day's first beams do peep; That they may rise, and say their prayers, And not be caught in this world's cares." Then he went on again, Too-whit! too-woo! shaking his solemn old head to and fro. He was a melancholy Owl; I think he must have been crossed in love. Solomon thought this Owl very clever to roll out beautiful poetry like that, off-hand as it were. He asked the Owl again-- "Tell me, O wise Owl, why do you shake your very solemn old head?" Said the Owl-- "I shake my head, to let all know This world is but a fleeting show. Men's days are flying with quick wings; So take no joy in earthly things. "Yet men will fix their hearts below Upon the pleasures that must go. Their joy is gone when they are dead; And that is why I shake my head." This touched King Solomon in a tender place, for he was himself rather fond of earthly delights. He sighed, and asked again-- "O most ancient and wise Owl! tell me why you never eat grain?" Answered the Owl-- "The bearded grain I do not eat, Because, when Adam ate some wheat, He was turned out of Paradise: So Adam's sin has made me wise. "If I should eat a single grain, The joys of heaven I should not gain. And so, to keep my erring feet, The bearded grain I never eat." Thought Solomon to himself, "I don't remember reading that story in Genesis, but perhaps he is right. I must look it up when I get home." Then he spoke to the Owl once more, and said-- "And now, good Owl, tell me why you drink no water at night?" Said the Owl-- "Since water all the world did drown In Noah's day, I will drink none. Were I to drink a single drop, My life would then most likely stop." Solomon was delighted to find the Owl so wise. "O my Owl," said he, "all my life long I have been looking for a counsellor who had reasons to give for what he did; I have never found one until I found you. Now I beg you to come home with me to-morrow, and you shall be my chief counsellor, and whatever I purpose I will first ask your advice." The Owl was equally delighted, and said, "Thank you." Thinking of the greatness that was to be his, the Owl stopped crying Too-whit! too-woo! and Solomon went to sleep.