is right. I must look it up when I get home."
Then he spoke to the Owl once more, and said--

"And now, good Owl, tell me why you drink no water at night?"

Said the Owl--

"Since water all the world did drown
In Noah's day, I will drink none.
Were I to drink a single drop,
My life would then most likely stop."

Solomon was delighted to find the Owl so wise. "O my Owl," said he, "all
my life long I have been looking for a counsellor who had reasons to
give for what he did; I have never found one until I found you. Now I
beg you to come home with me to-morrow, and you shall be my chief
counsellor, and whatever I purpose I will first ask your advice."

The Owl was equally delighted, and said, "Thank
you." Thinking of the greatness that was
to be his, the Owl stopped crying
Too-whit! too-woo! and
Solomon went
to sleep.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

The Camel's Neck

ONCE upon a time there was a very religious Camel; at least, he was
religious after the fashion of his country, that is, he used to mortify
his flesh by fasting, and scratch himself with thorns, and lie awake all
night meditating upon the emptiness of the world. That is what men used
to do in that country, in order to please their gods. One of these gods
was very much pleased with the piety of the Camel; so one night, as the
Camel was fasting, and saying over and over to himself, "Vanity of
vanities, all is vanity," the god appeared before him. He was a
curious-looking god, and he had four hands instead of two; but the Camel
did not mind that, nor did he laugh; on the contrary, he went down on
his knees and bowed before him.

"O Camel," said this god, "I have seen your fasting and heard your
prayers; and I have come to reward you. Choose what boon you like, and
it shall be yours."

"O mighty god, I should like to have a neck eight miles long."

The god answered, "Be it so!" and immediately the Camel felt his neck
shooting out like a telescope, until it was eight miles long. It shot
out so fast, that the Camel found it hard to escape running his head
against the trees. However, he steered it successfully, barring a bump
or two; and as by the time his neck stopped growing he was far out of
sight of the god, he could not even say thank you.

Now perhaps you will wonder why this Camel wanted a neck so long as
eight miles? I will