Excerpt:
"'Before I started saying what a fine book it would be, if I were you, I'd write it and give other people the chance to say so,' said the fairy queen.
"Mr. Owl began to write with his pen, made out of one of Mr. Turkey Gobbler's best feathers, on a large, flat stone, which he put in the hollow of his tree. Very late in the night, he awakened the fairies who had been sleeping, and told them to listen to his book. Then he called all the owls from the neighborhood with a loud hoot-hoot. But before he began to read, he said:
"'I've not enough light. I will hurt my eyes--my beautiful, wise, big eyes.'
"You see he had made a special arrangement to have his own lights, and when he said that he hadn't enough, from all over came countless little fireflies. They sparkled and gave the most beautiful light all over the woods, and Mr. Owl put his spectacles on his nose, and said:
"'Now I see to perfection--which means quite all right.' And Mr. Owl commenced reading his book.
"It told about the parties, balls, and picnics in fairyland, and of the wild adventures and happenings in the woods. The fairies were absolutely delighted that a book had been written with so much about them in it.
"And the fairy queen was more than happy, for the last chapter was all about her.
"'Well,' said Mr. Owl, 'you made me ashamed of myself for boasting about my book before I had written it, and so the only thing I could do was to write a wise chapter all about you.'
"And the fairy queen smiled with pleasure and also with amusement--for Mr. Owl had certainly thought he could write a wise book--though the next time, perhaps, he wouldn't say so before he had written it.
"The fireflies had been sparkling and flashing lights all this time, and finally they whispered:
"'Have a dance, all of you; we'll give you the light and dance too. It is not well to read books all the time--you must dance.'
