n now brought out a folded paper from a pocket underneath his
wing, and handed it to the owl, who opened it, and said he would give it
due consideration on reading it over. After listening to their
conversation awhile Laurie learned that the owl, because of his wisdom,
was the judge who decided the serious affairs and quarrels among the
other birds and animals. The room was built in the hollow of a dead
tree--it was quite snug, but not half so nice as the squirrel house, for
there was no pretty wall paper, and a great spider-web instead hung
across one corner of the room; on one side was an oval window, out of
which could be seen wood and meadow, and on a peg against the wall hung
a warm winter cloak of soft moleskin. The owl now gravely folded and
sealed several legal-looking documents, and gave them to the pigeon,
who, tucking them away in the same pocket, flapped his wings, and,
nodding to Laurie to jump on his back, flew out into the sunshine.
Laurie had hardly time to wonder where the pigeon was taking him to this
time, when he saw the farm below them, and they alighted on the roof of
the barn.

[Illustration: Laurie was standing on the top of the barn roof]

"Cock-a-doodle-doo," crowed the rooster on the weather-vane, but he
really thought he was saying "How-de-do-de-do?" He was a splendid
fellow, for he was pure gold and shone in the sunlight; he turned this
way and that for everybody to see him, until the common fowls in the
barn-yard envied him and wished themselves in his place, though if they
had only known it they were far better off than he, for they could pick
up corn and worms, while he was obliged to stand there always, which was
not so pleasant on rainy days. He was terribly hoarse, too, from the
damp weather, and it made his voice sound like a rusty hinge that needed
oiling. "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" he said to Laurie, and Laurie bowed the
best way he could, which was not very easy considering that he was
standing on the top of the barn roof. "So you are the little boy who has
come to visit at the farm-house; I saw you drive in. I see everything
and everybody, people come and people go; it is a mistake to think that
one must travel to see the world: I prefer to remain at home, but then
every one is not as bright as I"--he certainly was conceited--"still I
am never idle," he continued, "for I have my work to do; the farmer
cannot do without me. I warn him of a change of weather, but not
everyone who is chan