THE HISTORY OF THE SEVEN YOUNG OWLS.
When the seven young Owls set out, they sate every now and then on the
branches of old trees, and never went far at one time.
And one night, when it was quite dark, they thought they heard a mouse;
but, as the gas-lamps were not lighted, they could not see him.
So they called out, "Is that a mouse?"
On which a mouse answered, "Squeaky-peeky-weeky! yes, it is!"
And immediately all the young Owls threw themselves off the tree, meaning
to alight on the ground; but they did not perceive that there was a large
well below them, into which they all fell superficially, and were every one
of them drowned in less than half a minute.
So that was the end of the seven young Owls.
[Illustration]