The Tale of Solomon Owl Read online

  The Tale of Solomon OwlBy Arthur Scott Bailey

  Author of "The Tale of Sandy Chipmunk," "The Tale of Tommy Fox," etc._Illustrated by Harry L. Smith_

  New YorkGrosset & Dunlap1917

  [_Frontispiece_]

  Solomon Owl Sat Up And Listened.

  CONTENTS

  IllustrationsI - Scaring Johnny GreenII - A NewcomerIII - Solomon Likes FrogsIV - An Odd BargainV - The Cold Weather CoatVI - Solomon Needs a ChangeVII - The Blazing EyesVIII - Watching The ChickensIX - Hallowe'enX - A Troublesome WishboneXI - Cured At LastXII - Benjamin BatXIII - The Lucky GuestXIV - Hanging By The HeelsXV - Disputes SettledXVI - Nine FightsXVII - Cousin Simon ScreecherXVIII - A Cousinly QuarrelXIX - The Sleet StormXX - A Pair Of Red-HeadsXXI - At Home In The HaystackXXII - It Was Solomon's Fault

  ILLUSTRATIONS

  Solomon Owl Sat Up And Listened _Frontispiece_ Solomon Found Mr. Frog's Shop Was Closed Benjamin Bat Asked Solomon's Advice "It's All Right!" Said Solomon

  THE TALE OF SOLOMON OWL

  ISCARING JOHNNY GREEN

  When Johnnie Green was younger, it always scared him to hear Solomon Owl'sdeep-toned voice calling in the woods after dark.

  "_Whoo-whoo-whoo, whoo-whoo, to-whoo-ah_!" That weird cry was enough tosend Johnnie Green hurrying into the farmhouse, though sometimes he pausedin the doorway to listen--especially if Solomon Owl happened to belaughing. His "_haw-haw-hoo-hoo_," booming across the meadow on a crispfall evening, when the big yellow moon hung over the fields of corn-shocksand pumpkins, sounded almost as if Solomon were laughing at the little boyhe had frightened. There was certainly a mocking, jeering note in hislaughter.

  Of course, as he grew older, Johnnie Green no longer shivered on hearingSolomon's rolling call. When Solomon laughed, Johnnie Green would laugh,too. But Solomon Owl never knew that, for often he was half a mile fromthe farm buildings.

  A "hoot owl," Johnnie Green termed him. And anyone who heard Solomonhooting of an evening, or just before sunrise, would have agreed that itwas a good name for him. But he was really a _barred_ owl, for he had barsof white across his feathers.

  If you had happened to catch Solomon Owl resting among the thick hemlocksnear the foot of Blue Mountain, where he lived, you would have thoughtthat he looked strangely like a human being. He had no "horns," orear-tufts, such as some of the other owls wore; and his great pale face,with its black eyes, made him seem very wise and solemn.

  In spite of the mild, questioning look upon his face whenever anyonesurprised him in the daytime, Solomon Owl was the noisiest of all thedifferent families of owls in Pleasant Valley. There were the barn owls,the long-eared owls, the short-eared owls, the saw-whet owls, the screechowls--but there! there's no use of naming them all. There wasn't one ofthem that could equal Solomon Owl's laughing and hooting and shrieking andwailing--at night.

  During the day, however, Solomon Owl he was quiet about it. One reason forhis silence then was that he generally slept when the sun was shining. Andwhen most people were sleeping, Solomon Owl was as wide awake as he couldbe.

  He was a night-prowler--if ever there was one. And he could see a mouse onthe darkest night, even if it stirred ever so slightly.

  That was unfortunate for the mice. But luckily for them, Solomon Owlcouldn't be in more than one place at a time. Otherwise, there wouldn'thave been a mouse left in Pleasant Valley--if he could have had _his_ way.

  And though he didn't help the mice, he helped Farmer Green by catchingthem. If he did take a fat pullet once in a while, it is certain that hemore than paid for it.

  So, on the whole, Farmer Green did not wood-lot. And for a long timeSolomon raised no objection to Farmer Green's living near Swift River.

  But later Solomon Owl claimed that it would be a good thing for the forestfolk if they could get rid of the whole Green family--and the hired man,too.

  IIA NEWCOMER

  Upon his arrival, as a stranger, in Pleasant Valley, Solomon Owl lookedabout carefully for a place to live. What he wanted especially was a good,_dark_ hole, for he thought that sunshine was very dismal.

  Though he was willing to bestir himself enough to suit anybody, when itcame to _hunting_, Solomon Owl did not like to work. He was no busynest-builder, like Rusty Wren. In his search for a house he looked severaltimes at the home of old Mr. Crow. If it had suited him better, Solomonwould not have hesitated to take that it was altogether _too light_ toplease him.

  That was lucky for old Mr. Crow. And the black rascal knew it, too. He hadnoticed that Solomon Owl was hanging about the neighborhood. And severaltimes he caught Solomon examining his nest.

  But Mr. Crow did not have to worry long. For as it happened, Solomon Owlat last found exactly what he wanted. In an old, hollow hemlock, he cameacross a cozy, dark cavity. As soon as he saw it he knew that it was thevery thing! So he moved in at once. And except for the time that he spentin the meadow--which was considerably later--he lived there for a good manyyears.

  Once Fatty Coon thought that he would drive Solomon out of his snug houseand live in it himself. But he soon changed Solomon Owl--so Fattydiscovered--had sharp, strong claws and a sharp, strong beak as well, whichcurled over his face in a cruel hook.

  It was really a good thing for Solomon Owl--the fight he had with FattyCoon. For afterward his neighbors seldom troubled him--except when JasperJay brought a crowd of his noisy friends to tease Solomon, or ReddyWoodpecker annoyed him by rapping on his door when he was asleep.

  But those rowdies always took good care to skip out of Solomon's reach.And when Jasper Jay met Solomon alone in the woods at dawn or dusk he wasmost polite to the solemn old chap. _Then_ it was "How-dy-do, Mr. Owl!"and "I hope you're well to-day!" And when Solomon Jasper, that bold fellowalways felt quite uneasy; and he was glad when Solomon Owl looked away.

  If Solomon Owl chanced to _hoot_ on those occasions, Jasper Jay would jumpalmost out of his bright blue coat. Then Solomon's deep laughter wouldecho mockingly through the woods.

  You see, though not nearly so wise as he appeared, Solomon Owl knew wellenough how to frighten some people.

  IIISOLOMON LIKES FROGS

  It was a warm summer's evening--so warm that Mr. Frog, the tailor, hadtaken his sewing outside his tailor's shop and seated himself cross-leggedupon the bank of the brook, where he sang and sewed without ceasing--exceptto take a swim now and then in the cool water, "to stretch his legs," ashe claimed.

  He was making a new suit of blue clothes for Jasper Jay. And since Jasperwas a great dandy, and very particular Mr. Frog was taking special painswith his sewing.

  Usually he did his work quickly. But now after every five stitches that heput into his work he stopped to take out ten. And naturally he was notgetting on very fast. He had been working busily since early morning; andJasper Jay's suit was further than ever from being finished.

  Since he was a most cheerful person, Mr. Frog did not mind that. Indeed,he was more than pleased, because the oftener he took a swim the fewerstitches he lost. So he sang the merriest songs he knew.

  The light was fast fading when a hollow laugh startled Mr. Frog. It seemedto come from the willow tree right over his head. And he knew withoutlooking up that it was Solomon Owl's deep voice.

  Mr. Frog tried to leap into the brook. But when he uncrossed his legs, inhis haste he tangled them up in his sewing. And all he could do was toturn a somersault backward among some bulrushes, hoping that Solomon Owlhad not seen him.

  It is no secret that Mr. Frog was terribly afraid of Solomon Owl. Some ofMr. Frog's friends had mysteriously disappeared. And they had last beenseen in Solomon's company.

  As it happened, Mr. Frog had hoped i
n vain. For Solomon Owl only laughedmore loudly than before. And then he said:

  "What are you afraid of, Mr. Frog?"

  The tailor knew at once that he was caught. So he hopped nimbly to hisfeet and answered that there was nothing to be afraid of, so far as hecould see.

  It was a true statement, too; because Mr. Frog had not yet discoveredSolomon Owl's exact whereabouts.

  But he learned them soon; for Solomon immediately dropped down from thebig willow and alighted on the bank near Mr. Frog--altogether _too near_him, in fact, for the tailor's comfort.

  Solomon looked at Mr. Frog very solemnly. And he thought that he shivered.

  "What's the matter? Are you ill?" Solomon Owl inquired. "You seem to beshaking."

  "Just a touch of chills and fever, probably!" replied Mr. Frog with anuneasy smile. "You know it's very damp here."

  "You don't look in the best of health--that's a fact!" Solomon Owlremarked. "You appear to me to be somewhat green in the face." And helaughed once more--that same hollow, mirthless laugh.

  Mr. Frog couldn't help jumping, because the sound alarmed him.

  "Don't be disturbed!" said Solomon Owl. "I like all the Frog family."

  At that remark, Mr. Frog started violently That was exactly the trouble!Solomon Owl was _altogether too fond_ of frogs, whether they were old oryoung, big or little.

  It was no wonder that Mr. Frog swallowed rapidly sixteen times before hecould say another word.

  IVAN ODD BARGAIN

  While Mr. Frog was swallowing nothing rapidly, he was thinking rapidly,too. There was something about Solomon Owl's big, staring eyes that madeMr. Frog feel uncomfortable. And if he had thought he had any chance ofescaping he would have dived into the brook and swum under the bank.

  But Solomon Owl was too near him for that. And Mr. Frog was afraid hiscaller would pounce upon him any moment. So he quickly thought of a planto save himself. "No doubt----" he began. But Solomon Owl interrupted him.

  "There!" cried Solomon. "You _can_ speak, after all. I supposed you'dswallowed your tongue. And I was just waiting to see what you'd do next. Ithought maybe you would swallow your _head_."

  Mr. Frog managed to laugh at the joke, though, to tell the truth, he feltmore nervous than ever. He saw what was in Solomon Owl's mind, for Solomonwas thinking of swallowing Mr. Frog's head himself.

  "No doubt--" Mr. Frog resumed--"no doubt you've come to ask me to make you anew suit of clothes."

  Now, Solomon Owl had had no such idea at all. But when it was mentioned tohim, he rather liked it.

  "Will you?" he inquired, with a highly interested air.

  "Why, certainly!" the tailor replied. And for the first time since he hadturned his backward somersault into the bulrushes, he smiled widely. "I'lltell you what I'll do!" he said. "First, I'll make you a coat free. Andsecond, if you like it I will then make you a waistcoat and trousers, atdouble rates."

  Solomon Owl liked the thought of getting a coat for nothing. But for allthat, he looked at the tailor somewhat doubtfully.

  "Will it take you long?" he asked.

  "No, indeed!" Mr. Frog told him. "I'll make your coat while you wait."

  "Oh, I wasn't going away," Solomon assured him with an odd look which madeMr. Frog shiver again. "Be quick, please! Because I have some importantbusiness to attend to."

  Mr. Frog couldn't help wondering if it wasn't he himself that Solomon Owlwas going to attend to. In spite of his fears, to work to cut up somecloth that hung just outside his door.

  "Stop!" Solomon Owl cried in a voice that seemed to shake the very ground."You haven't measured me yet!"

  "It's not necessary," Mr. Frog explained glibly. "I've become so skilfulthat one look at an elegant figure like yours is all that I need."

  Naturally, Mr. Frog's remark pleased Solomon Owl. And he uttered ten rapidhoots, which served to make Mr. Frog's fingers fly all the faster. Soon hewas sewing Solomon's coat with long stitches; and though his needleslipped now and then, he did not pause to take out a single stitch. Forsome reason, Mr. Frog was in a great hurry.

  Solomon Owl did not appear to notice that the tailor was not taking muchpains with his sewing. Perhaps Mr. Frog worked so fast that Solomon couldnot see what he was doing.

  Anyhow, he was delighted when Mr. Frog suddenly cried:

  "It's finished!" And then he tossed the coat to Solomon. "Try it on!" hesaid. "I want to see how well it fits you."

  Solomon Owl held up the garment and looked at it very carefully. And as heexamined it a puzzled look came over his great pale face.

  There was something about his new coat that he did not understand.

  VTHE COLD WEATHER COAT

  Yes! As he held up his new coat and looked at it, Solomon Owl was puzzled.He turned his head toward Mr. Frog and stared at him for a moment. Andthen he turned his head away from the tailor and gazed upon the coatagain.

  Mr. Frog was most uncomfortable--especially when Solomon looked at _him_.

  "Everything's all right, isn't it?" he inquired.

  Solomon Owl slowly shook his head.

  "This is a queer coat!" he said. "What's this bag at the top of it?"

  "Oh!" exclaimed Mr. Frog. "That's the hood! Knowing that you spend yourwinters here in Pleasant Valley, I made a hood to go over your head....You'll find it very comfortable in cold weather--and it's the latest style,too. All the winter coats this year will have hoods, with holes to seethrough, you know."

  Solomon Owl looked relieved at Mr. Frog's explanation. But there was stillsomething more that appeared to trouble him.

  "How shall I get into the coat?" he inquired. "It doesn't open in front,as it should."

  "Another cold-weather style!" Mr. Frog assured him. "It's wind-proof! Andinstead of buttoning the coat, you pull it on over your head."

  Solomon Owl said he didn't like that style very well.

  "Then I can easily change it," the tailor told him. "But just try it on!"he urged. "It may please you, after all."

  So Solomon Owl pulled the coat over his head. And it fell down about him,almost reaching his feet. But the coat did not seem to suit him at all,for he began to splutter and choke.

  "What's the matter now?" Mr. Frog asked him.

  "I can't see--that's what's the matter!" Solomon Owl cried in a voice thatsounded hollower than ever, because it was muffled by the hood, whichcovered his head.

  "I declare--I haven't cut the holes for your eyes!" the tailor exclaimed."Just wait a moment and I'll make everything satisfactory." He clinked hisshears together sharply as he spoke.

  But Solomon Owl told him that he wouldn't _think_ of letting anybody useshears so near his eyes.

  [_Illustration 1_]

  Solomon Found Mr. Frog's Shop Was Closed

  "I'll take off the coat," he said. "And I know now that you're a very poortailor, or you wouldn't have made such a mistake." He began to tug at thecoat. But he soon found that taking it off was not so easy as putting iton. Solomon's sharp claws caught in the cloth; and his hooked beak, too,fastened itself in the hood the moment he tried to pull the coat over hishead. "Here!" he cried to Mr. Frog. "Just lend me a hand! I can't see tohelp myself."

  But Mr. Frog did not even answer him.

  "Don't you hear me?" Solomon Owl shouted, as he struggled with his newcoat, only to become tangled in it more than ever.

  Still, the tailor said never a word, though something very like a giggle,followed by a splash, caught Solomon's ear.

  "He's left me!" Solomon Owl groaned.

  "Mr. Frog has left me to get out of this coat alone. And goodness knowshow I'm ever a-going to do it." He threshed about so vigorously that hetripped himself and fell upon the bank of the brook, rolling over and overtoward the water.

  He had a very narrow escape. If he hadn't happened to bring up against anold stump he would certainly have tumbled into the stream.

  Though Solomon couldn't see, he knew that he was in danger. So he lay onhis back on the g
round and carefully tore his new coat into strings andribbons.

  At last he was free. And he rose to his feet feeling very sheepish, for heknew that Mr. Frog had played a sly trick on him.

  "Nevermind!" said Solomon Owl, as he flew way. "I'll come back to-morrowand ask Mr. Frog to make me a waistcoat and trousers. And then----" He didnot finish what he was saying. But there is no doubt that whatever it was,it could not have been very pleasant for Mr. Frog.

  Just as he had planned, Solomon Owl returned to the brook the next day.And he was both surprised and disappointed at what he found.

  The door of Mr. Frog's tailor's shop was shut and locked. And on it therewas a sign, which said:

  TO LET

  "He's moved away!" cried Solomon Owl. And he went off feeling that he hadbeen cheated out of a good dinner--to say nothing of a new waistcoat--andnew trousers, too.

  He had not been gone long when the door opened. And Mr. Frog leaped nimblyoutside. He took the sign off the door; and sitting down cross-legged uponthe bank, he began to sew upon Jasper Jay's new blue suit, while his facewore a wider smile than ever.

  He had suddenly decided not to let his shop, after all.

  VISOLOMON NEEDS A CHANGE

  For some time Solomon Owl had known that a queer feeling was coming overhim. And he could not think what it meant. He noticed, too, that hisappetite was leaving him. Nothing seemed to taste good any more.