Old Mr. Owl Danced with the Rest.
"Old Mr. Owl wanted to write a book and he asked the fairies how to set about doing it," commenced daddy.
"'Well,' said the fairy queen, 'it makes a good deal of difference, old Mr. Owl, what you want to write about.'
"'What nonsense!' he said. 'It's just that I want to know how to start off with my book. Just think what a marvelous book it will be—as for as long as folks can remember I've been called the Wise Bird—the bird who's awake at night and whose eyes are so very bright!'
"'Before I started saying what a fine book it would be, if I were you, I'd write it and give other people the chance to say so,' said the fairy queen.
"Mr. Owl began to write with his pen, made out of one of Mr. Turkey Gobbler's best feathers, on a large, flat stone, which he put in the hollow of his tree. Very late in the night, he awakened the fairies who had been sleeping, and told them to listen to his book. Then he called all the owls from the neighborhood with a loud hoot-hoot. But before he began to read, he said:
"'I've not enough light. I will hurt my eyes—my beautiful, wise, big eyes.'
"You see he had made a special arrangement to have his own lights, and when he said that he hadn't enough, from all over came countless little fireflies. They sparkled and gave the most beautiful light all over the woods, and Mr. Owl put his spectacles on his nose, and said: