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