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"Let us knock here," said the shrewd bat; "I know the old fellow is not

asleep. This is his prowling hour, and but that it is a stormy night he

would be abroad hunting.--What ho, Master Owl!" he squeaked, "will you

let in two storm-tossed travelers for a night's lodging?"



Gruffly the selfish old owl bade them enter, and grudgingly invited them

to share his supper. The poor dove was so tired that she could scarcely

eat, but the greedy bat's spirits rose as soon as he saw the viands

spread before him. He was a sly fellow, and immediately began to flatter

his host into good humor. He praised the owl's wisdom and his courage,

his gallantry and his generosity; though every one knew that however

wise old Master Owl might be, he was neither brave nor gallant. As

for his generosity--both the dove and the bat well remembered his

selfishness toward the poor wren, when the owl alone of all the birds

refused to give the little fire-bringer a feather to help cover his

scorched and shivering body.



All this flattery pleased the owl. He puffed and ruffled himself, trying

to look as wise, gallant, and brave as possible. He pressed the bat to

help himself more generously to the viands, which invitation the sly

fellow was not slow to accept.



During this time the dove had not uttered a word. She sat quite still

staring at the bat, and wondering to hear such insincere speeches of

flattery. Suddenly the owl turned to her.



"As for you, Miss Pink-Eyes," he said gruffly, "you keep careful

silence. You are a dull table-companion. Pray, have you nothing to say

for yourself?"



"Yes," exclaimed the mischievous bat; "have you no words of praise for

our kind host? Methinks he deserves some return for this wonderfully

generous, agreeable, tasteful, well-appointed, luxurious, elegant, and

altogether acceptable banquet. What have you to say, O little dove?"



But the dove hung her head, ashamed of her companion, and said very

simply: "O Master Owl, I can only thank you with all my heart for the

hospitality and shelter which you have given me this night. I was beaten

by the storm, and you took me in. I was hungry, and you gave me your

best to eat. I cannot flatter nor make pretty speeches like the bat. I

never learned such manners. But I thank you."



"What!" cried the bat, pretending to be shocked, "is that all you have

to say to our obliging host? Is he not the wisest, bravest, most gallant

and generous of gentlemen? Have you no praise for his noble character as

well as for his goodness to us? I am ashamed of you! You do not deserve

such hospitality. You do not deserve this shelter."



The dove remained silent. Like Cordelia in the play she could not speak

untruths even for her own happiness.



"Truly, you are an unamiable guest," snarled the owl, his yellow eyes

growing keen and fierce with anger and mortified pride. "You are an

ungrateful bird, Miss, and the bat is right. You do not deserve this

generous hospitality which I have offered, this goodly shelter which you

asked. Away with you! Leave my dwelling! Pack off into the storm and see

whether or not your silence will soothe the rain and the wind. Be off, I

say!"



"Yes, away with her!" echoed the bat, flapping his leathery wings.



And the two heartless creatures fell upon the poor little dove and drove

her out into the dark and stormy night.



Poor little dove! All night she was tossed and beaten about shelterless

in the storm, because she had been too truthful to flatter the vain old

owl. But when the bright morning dawned, draggled and weary as she was,

she flew to the court of King Eagle and told him all her trouble. Great

was the indignation of that noble bird.



"For his flattery and his cruelty let the bat never presume to fly

abroad until the sun goes down," he cried. "As for the owl, I have

already doomed him to this punishment for his treatment of the wren. But

henceforth let no bird have anything to do with either of them, the

bat or the owl. Let them be outcasts and night-prowlers, enemies to be

attacked and punished if they appear among us, to be avoided by all in

their loneliness. Flattery and inhospitality, deceit and cruelty,--what

are more hideous than these? Let them cover themselves in darkness and

shun the happy light of day.



"As for you, little dove, let this be a lesson to you to shun the

company of flatterers, who are sure to get you into trouble. But you

shall always be loved for your simplicity and truth. And as a token

of our affection your name shall be used by poets as long as the world

shall last to rhyme with LOVE."