But the Owl, standing up and bowing low to the Eagle, said, “Your Majesty, I beg of you not to allow your feelings to carry you too far. Remember the rules of our great gathering here. Let us see if any one has anything against this animal.”
Now the Eagle had always a great respect for the Owl. Indeed, the time he had been obliged to go to Washington to have his picture taken for the new American dollar, the owl had taken his place at this meeting. So the Eagle said: “Very well, Ready is before you. Who speaks against him?”
It was very still for a minute. Ready’s heart beat fast as he feared he might have offended a chicken, a cat or something without knowing it, but no one answered and the cheering began.
Then again the Owl stepped forward. “I hate to seem so particular,” he apologized, “but I have just been re-reading the rules of our great gathering. It says:
All animals who are strangers in the neighborhood must be properly introduced and vouched for before any wishes can be granted them.
“Now, Ready was introduced by Paf, but he must be vouched for by some one else. By that I mean,” explained the Owl, “that some one must speak a good word for him.”
“I will speak for him”
At this Ready’s heart sank. Who indeed would speak for him? Who knew him here? Then he heard a voice saying, “I will speak for him. When he jumped out of the window the other night, he was in a great hurry. The shortest way would have been to step upon my lame shoulder, but he went the long way instead.”
Now Ready knew that the largest geranium in the flower bed was speaking.