The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

OWL STORY

AN OWL WAS SITTING IN A TREE DURING THE DEAD OF WINTER.
THE OWL WAS FREEZING. HE SAW A CABIN DOWN IN THE
VALLEY WITH SMOKE POURING FROM ITS CHIMNEY. THE OWL
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE SITTING NEXT TO A
NICE WARM FIRE, SO HE FLEW TOWARDS THE CABIN AND WAS
IN SUCH A HURRY THAT HE FLEW RIGHT INTO THE WINDOW
AND KNOCKED HIMSELF OUT. NOW A VETENARY {VETERINARY}
LIVED IN THE CABIN AND HEARD THE OWL HIT THE WINDOW
SO HE WENT OUTSIDE AND FOUND THIS OWL LAYING ON THE
GROUND, SO HE BROUGHT THE OWL INSIDE. WHEN HE GOT
INSIDE, HE BEGAN TO CHECK THE OWL OVER AND FOUND THAT
ITS TONSILS NEEDED TO BE TAKEN OUT, SO HE DID. THEN HE
FOUND THAT THE OWL HAD PILES, SO HE GOT RID OF THOSE.
WHEN THE OWL GOT BETTER, THE VETENARY LET HIM GO. THE
OWL WAS SITTING IN THAT SAME TREE, ONE DAY, WHEN ANOTHER
OWL CAME AND SAT NEXT TO HIM. IT WAS COLD THAT DAY AND
THE OTHER OWL SAID, "SAY, WHY DON'T WE GO DOWN TO THAT
CABIN AND GET WARM BY THE FIRE." THE OWL REPLIED,
"NO THANKS! A VETENARY LIVES IN THAT CABIN." "SO
WHAT?" "I WENT DOWN THERE ONCE AND HE TOOK OUT MY
TONSILS AND GOT RID OF MY PILES. NOW I CAN'T SHIT
WORTH A HOOT OR HOOT WORTH A SHIT."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens

Date learned: 11-08-1968