Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1892 — THE OWLS' CHRISTMAS. [ARTICLE]

THE OWLS' CHRISTMAS.

BY LURA LEE.

There was an old owl, and he lived la a tree, i A Christmas tree, if you please; Add seven small owlets his children were, Nimble and merry as bees; But very gruff were they The day that came just before Christmas Day, » For not a gift, if you please. “Huh!” and “Ha!” and Humph!” they icu ' “A nice state of things, if you please: Not a present nor a bit of fun. While father snoozes at ease. Papa, wake up I What of Christmas Day? Can’t we go out and Lave a play Under the Christmas trees?” Father he blinked, but he chuckled outright. Then got out his pocket-knife keen, And whittled seven pairs of tiny skates, The tiniest ever seen. With holly leaves he tied them secure, _ And rolled up seven tippets of snow soft and pure, And put them on, if you please. He gave each for a cane an icicle long, And took them all adown to the lake: Where the ice was smooth, and glassy, and i strongNo dan ger'that it would break— And said, "You can skate, and run, and dance, ________ And tumble, play tag. and stumble, and prance, All day and all night, if you please.” So that was their Christmas. Snug in bed, And awfully tired that night. The owlets slept, and never woke-up Till Morning, but woke in affright. What do you think? The tree was cut down Without waking an owl and carted to town, And set up in a house, if you please. There it was lighted and trimmed and bodecked, And the nest at the top of the tree; Presents below and a merry crowd Laughing and romping with glee. And there Mr. Owl and his family were kept. And petted and fed till the children slept. Then out to the home grove they all were swept. And that was their Christmas Day.