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.