Poor Old Mr. Owl’s Toothache

Western Screech Owl (Megascops kennicottii)(captive) by Raymond Barlow

POOR OLD MR. OWL’S TOOTHACHE

“I’m ready now,” said Dr. Raven.

Evelyn had been eating a great deal of candy—so much that it had given her a very bad toothache—and when daddy came home he found her curled up on the bed looking very mournful. Jack had been trying to comfort her, but he hadn’t been able to help much. So when he heard daddy’s step he called, “Come along, daddy, and tell a story especially for Evelyn to make her forget about her toothache.”

“That is too bad,” said daddy. “I’m sorry my little girl has a toothache. I’ll see if I can’t tell a good story so you’ll feel better and will be able to sleep and have pleasant dreams. I think I’ll tell you about old Mr. Owl, for he had the most terrible toothache one time. He had been eating a great many sugar-plums and lots of candy, and before he knew it one of his teeth was aching so hard he could hardly stand it. ‘Oh, dear,’ he moaned; ‘my tooth, my poor tooth! Whatever will I do?’

“It ached so badly for several days that he decided at last he’d go to the dentist. Dr. Raven was considered the very best dentist. So off went Mr. Owl to his office in the pine tree. When he arrived there he saw Dr. Raven busily fixing Mrs. Crow’s teeth. She was leaning back on a stump of wood which Dr. Raven used as his dental chair. She had a rubber band over her mouth and looked very miserable. It quite frightened Mr. Owl, but he tried to be brave and sat down, put on his spectacles and began to read one of Dr. Raven’s magazines. In a few moments Mrs. Crow got out of the chair, and Dr. Raven said, ‘I’m ready for you now, Mr. Owl.’ So Mr. Owl took off his spectacles, got into Dr. Raven’s chair and leaned his head back. ‘Open wide,’ said Dr. Raven. Mr. Owl opened his mouth as wide as he could, and Dr. Raven looked inside. First he looked over his upper teeth, then over his lower teeth, and finally he began to poke at one back tooth with such energy that Mr. Owl screamed, ‘That’s my sore tooth, and you’re hurting it terribly!

Northern Raven (Corvus corax) by Raymond Barlow

“‘Yes,’ said Dr. Raven; ‘the tooth is a wisdom tooth, and it is much inflamed, so I’ll take it out right away.’ He reached for his pinchers, but Mr. Owl said: ‘If you take out my wisdom tooth I’ll lose my wisdom, and I’m known all over the world for my wisdom. I simply won’t have it.’

“And before Dr. Raven had a chance to speak Mr. Owl had jumped out of the chair and flown off. When he got home his tooth still hurt, but the next morning it felt much better, and the next day it was all well. ‘I know what all the trouble was,’ said Mr. Owl. ‘I ate too much candy. I’ll never eat too much again, for I cannot lose any of my wisdom teeth when I’m known as the wisest bird.'”

“Daddy,” said Jack, “your story would be a very good one, only owls don’t have teeth.” Daddy smiled, and as the children laughingly went to bed, Evelyn said her toothache had gone.

Lee’s Addition:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10 NKJV)

For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; (Proverbs 2:6 NKJV)

What can I add to that story, other than just enjoy it. Also, Owls are known to be wise, but true wisdom comes from God.

Owls and Ravens are both Bible Birds.

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