AN Owl, who was sitting in a hollow tree,
dozing away a long summer
afternoon,
was much disturbed by a rogue of a Grasshop-
per, singing in the grass below.
So far from moving away at the request of
the Owl, or keeping quiet, the
Grasshopper
sang all the more, saying that honest people
got their sleep at night.
The Owl waited in silence for a while,
and
then artfully addressed the Grasshopper thus:
"I ought to be angry with
you, I suppose,
my dear, for I confess I would rather
sleep
than listen to your singing. But if one cannot
be allowed to sleep, it is something to be kept
awake by such a pleasant little pipe as yours.
And now it occurs to me that I have
some
delicious nectar with which to
reward a
musician who sings so sweetly. If you will
take the trouble to come up, you shall have a
drop. It will clear your voice nicely."
The silly Grasshopper came hopping up to
the Owl, who at once caught and killed him.
and so finished her nap in comfort.
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