# The Owl - Source: McGuffey's Second Reader (second-reader.gutenberg.org), Public domain, William Holmes McGuffey, 1879, via Project Gutenberg - Reading level: Grades 1 and 2 - Subjects: Stories, Animals - Topics: fred, bird, flew, round, said, whoo - Length: 184 words, about 1 min - Original: - Page: - Open in Sprouts: THE OWL. - "Where did you get that owl, Harry?" - "Fred and I found him in the old, hollow oak." - "How did you know he was there?" - "I'll tell you. Fred and I were playing 'hide and seek' round the old barn, one night just at dusk. - "I was just creeping round the corner, when I heard a loud squeak, and a big bird flew up with something in his claws. - "I called Fred, and we watched him as he flew to the woods. Fred thought the bird was an owl, and that he had a nest in the old oak. - "The next day we went to look for him, and, sure enough, he was there." - "But how did you catch him? I should think he could fight like a good fellow with that sharp bill." - "He can when he is wide awake; but owls can't see very well in the daytime, and he was taking a nap. - "He opened his great eyes, and ruffled up his feathers, and said, "Whoo! Whoo!' 'Never mind who,' Fred said, and slipped him into a bag." ## Picture credits - illustrator not named in this edition, Public domain () - illustrator not named in this edition, Public domain ()