The Owl

Long, long ago, the owl was a painter. He was a very good worker — not lazy, quick, and kind to those for whom he worked. All the birds went to the owl and asked him to paint their feathers. He painted them in different beautiful colors just as the birds wanted. They were all greatly pleased with the owl, all except the raven. The raven did not like the colors or the way the owl painted the birds' feathers. All the birds changed the color of their feathers from time to time, but the raven did not change his color. His feathers were snow-white and he liked their color very much. He often showed his wings to all the birds and said, "My white feathers are wonderful, aren't they?"

But time passed, and soon the raven began to like other colors and was not happy with his white feathers anymore. One day he went to the owl and said:

"Very well, you may paint my feathers too, but they must have a color that no other bird has."

The owl thought and thought about what color to paint the raven's feathers. He showed the raven one rich color after another, but the raven did not like them. In the end, he painted them black and said, "Now you have a color that no other bird has."

The raven looked at himself in the mirror and saw that his feathers were as black as night. He did not like the color, but it was too late to change it now.

And from that day on, all ravens wear black feathers. But they do not make friends with the owl. When they see him, they fly at him and want to give him a hard time. The owl understands that if he meets the ravens face to face, it could be the end of him. That is why the owl does not fly by day. He flies only at night when all the ravens are asleep.