Arthur Scott Bailey

The Tale of Solomon Owl Arthur Scott Bailey

Upon his arrival, as a stranger, in Pleasant Valley, Solomon Owl looked about carefully for a place tolive. 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 it came to hunting, SolomonOwl did not like to work. He was no busy nest-builder, like Rusty Wren. In his search for a house helooked several times at the home of old Mr. Crow. If it had suited him better, Solomon would nothave hesitated to take that it was altogether too light to please him. That was lucky for old Mr. Crow. And the black rascal knew it, too. He had noticed that SolomonOwl was hanging about the neighborhood. And several times he caught Solomon examining hisnest. But Mr. Crow did not have to worry long. For as it happened, Solomon Owl at last found exactlywhat he wanted. In an old, hollow hemlock, he came across a cozy, dark cavity. As soon as he saw ithe knew that it was the very thing! So he moved in at once. And except for the time that he spent inthe meadow-which was considerably later-he lived there for a good many years. Once Fatty Coon thought that he would drive Solomon out of his snug house and live in it himself. But he soon changed Solomon Owl-so Fatty discovered-had sharp, strong claws and a sharp, strong beak as well, which curled over his face in a cruel hook