下载辰思小说免费APP
“Theycannotseebyday；andiftheygetoutintothelight，theygoflappingroundhalfblind，andtheotherbirdschaseandpeckatthem，asiftheyweremakingfun。Thehornedowlisverybig，’mostasbigastheeagle。Iteatsrabbits，rats，snakes，andbirds；andlivesinrocksandoldtumble-downhouses。Theyhaveagoodmanycries，andscreamlikeapersonbeingchoked，andsay，’WaughO!waughO!’anditscarespeopleatnightinthewoods。Thewhiteowllivesbythesea，andincoldplaces，andlookssomethinglikeahawk。Thereisakindofowlthatmakesholestoliveinlikemoles。Itiscalledtheburrowingowl，andisverysmall。
Thebarn-owlisthecommonestkind；andIhavewatchedonesittinginaholeinatree，lookinglikealittlegraycat，withoneeyeshutandtheotheropen。Hecomesoutatdusk，andsitsroundwaitingforthebats。
Icaughtone，andhereheis。“
WiththatNatsuddenlyproducedfrominsidehisjacketalittledownybird，whoblinkedandruffledhisfeathers，lookingveryplumpandsleepyandscared。
“Don’ttouchhim!Heisgoingtoshowoff，“saidNat，displayinghisnewpetwithgreatpride。Firstheputacockedhatonthebird’shead，andtheboyslaughedatthefunnyeffect；thenheaddedapairofpaperspectacles，andthatgavetheowlsuchawiselookthattheyshoutedwithmerriment。Theperformanceclosedwithmakingthebirdangry，andseeinghimclingtoahandkerchiefupsidedown，peckingand“clucking，“asRobcalledit。Hewasallowedtoflyafterthat，andsettledhimselfonthebunchofpine-conesoverthedoor，wherehesatstaringdownatthecompanywithanairofsleepydignitythatamusedthemverymuch。
“Haveyouanythingforus，George？“askedMr。Bhaer，whentheroomwasstillagain。
“Well，Ireadandlearnedeversomuchaboutmoles，butIdeclareI’veforgotteneverybitofit，exceptthattheydigholestolivein，thatyoucatchthembypouringwaterdown，andthattheycan’tpossiblylivewithouteatingveryoften；“andStuffysatdown，wishinghehadnotbeentoolazytowriteouthisvaluableobservations，forageneralsmilewentroundwhenhementionedthelastofthethreefactswhichlingeredinhismemory。
“Thenwearedoneforto-day，“beganMr。Bhaer，butTommycalledoutinagreathurry，；
“Noweain’t。Don’tyouknow？Wemustgivethething；“andhewinkedviolentlyashemadeaneye-glassofhisfingers。
“Blessmyheart，Iforgot!Nowisyourtime，Tom；“andMr。Bhaerdroppedintohisseatagain，whilealltheboysbutDanlookedmightilytickledatsomething。
Nat，Tommy，andDemilefttheroom，andspeedilyreturnedwithalittleredmoroccoboxsetforthinstateonMrs。Jo’sbestsilversalver。Tommyboreit，and，stillescortedbyNatandDemi，marcheduptounsuspectingDan，whostaredatthemasifhethoughttheyweregoingtomakefunofhim。Tommyhadpreparedanelegantandimpressivespeechfortheoccasion，butwhentheminutecame，itallwentoutofhishead，andhejustsaid，straightfromhiskindlyboyishheart，；
“Here，oldfellow，weallwantedtogiveyousomethingtokindofpayforwhathappenedawhileago，andtoshowhowmuchwelikedyouforbeingsuchatrump。Pleasetakeit，andhaveajollygoodtimewithit。“
Danwassosurprisedhecouldonlygetasredasthelittlebox，andmutter，“Thanky，boys!“ashefumbledtoopenit。Butwhenhesawwhatwasinside，hisfacelightedup，andheseizedthelongdesiredtreasure，sayingsoenthusiasticallythateveryonewassatisfied，thoughislanguagewasanythingbutpolished，；
“Whatastunner!Isay，youfellowsareregularbrickstogivemethis；
it’sjustwhatIwanted。Giveusyourpaw，Tommy。“
Manypawsweregiven，andheartilyshaken，fortheboyswerecharmedwithDan’spleasure，andcrowdedroundhimtoshakehandsandexpatiateonthebeautiesoftheirgift。Inthemidstofthispleasantchatter，Dan’seyewenttoMrs。Jo，whostoodoutsidethegroupenjoyingthescenewithallherheart。
“No，Ihadnothingtodowithit。Theboysgotitupallthemselves，“
shesaid，answeringthegratefullookthatseemedtothankherforthathappymoment。Da
