Story of the Day: Why Mr. Owl Can't Sing

Here is today's story: Why Mr. Owl Can't Sing. This is a story that Emma Backus collection in North Carolina. Here are more stories collected by Emma Backus, and more stories about owls.

spotted eagle owl

WHY MR. OWL CAN'T SING

When Mr. Owl was young, he could sing to beat all the birds in the woods. This old man what you see flying about calling "Whoo, whoo!" in the old time he could sing so fine that he teach the singing-school.

In them days Mr. Owl he never wander round, like he do in these here times, 'cause he have a happy home, and he stay home with his wife and chilluns, like a respectable man.

But that poor old man done see a heap of trouble in he time, he sure has; and it all come along of that trifling no count Miss Cuckoo, what too sorry to build her nest for herself, but go about laying her eggs in her neighbors' nests.

In the old time, Mr. and Miss Owl they belong to the quality; and they have a sure 'nough quality house, not like these little houses what you see these here times, what secondary people live in.

One night Miss Owl she go out to pay a visit, and she leave Mr. Owl at home to mind the chilluns; but directly she gone, Mr. Owl he take he fiddle under he arm, and go off to he singing-school. Then that trifling no count Miss Cuckoo come sailing along calling "Cuckoo, cuckoo!" and she leave her eggs in Miss Owl's fine nest, and then she go sailing off, calling, "Cuckoo, cuckoo! "

Now, presently Miss Owl she come home; and when she find that egg in her nest, she rear and charge on the poor old man to beat all; and she tell him she never live with him no more till he tell her who lay that egg; but the poor old man can't tell her, 'cause he don't know hisself. But Miss Owl she be mighty proud-spirited; and what she done say, she done say.

So the old man he leave he fine home, and he go wandering through the woods looking for the one what lay that egg and make all he trouble. And the old man he that sorrowful he can't sing no more, but just go sailing about, asking, "Whoo, whoo!" But Mr. Owl he never find out to this day who lay that egg, and so Miss Owl never live with him no more; but he keep on asking, "Whoo, whoo?" And now it done been that long, the poor old man plumb forgot how to sing, and he don't play he fiddle no more, and can't say nothing but "Whoo, whoo!"



Story Title: Why Mr. Owl Can't Sing
Article Title: Animal Tales from North Carolina, in Journal of American Folklore v. 25
Author: Backus, Emma and Ethel Hatton Leitner
Published: 1912
Rights: CC0 Public Domain
Online Source: Hathi Trust
Process: Eye-dialect removed, plus editing for paragraphing and punctuation.