The Owl - the tale about not being afraid of so called "monsters" 

Arthur Rackham-Screech owl/ źródło:https://www.oldbookillustrations.com

Two or three hundred years ago, when people were far from being so crafty and cunning as they are now, an extraordinary event took place in a little town. 

Unfortunately, one of the great owls had come from the neighbouring woods into the barn of one of the townsfolk in the night-time.

In the morning the scared owl did not dare to leave her retreat, for fear of the other birds, which raised a terrible outcry whenever she appeared.

In the morning when the man-servant went into the barn to fetch some straw, he was so mightily alarmed at the sight of the owl sitting there in a corner, that he ran away and announced to his master that a monster, which he had never set eyes on in his life was sitting in the barn. 

"I know you already," said the master, "you have courage enough to chase a blackbird about the fields. I must go and see for myself what kind of a monster it is," added the master, and went quite boldly into the barn. When, however, he saw the strange grim creature with his own eyes, he was no less terrified than the servant had been. 

With two bounds he sprang out, ran to his neighbours, and begged them to help him with an unknown and dangerous beast. Otherwise, the whole town might be in danger.

A great noise arose in all the streets, the townsmen came armed with spears, hay-forks, scythes, and axes, as if they were going out against an enemy.

When they had drawn up in the market- place, they marched to the barn, and surrounded it on all sides. Then, one of the most courageous of them stepped forth and entered with his spear lowered, but came running out immediately afterwards with a shriek and as pale as death. Next two others ventured in but the same happened and they could not utter a single word. 

At last one stepped forth; a great strong man who was famous for his warlike deeds, and said, 

"You will not drive away the monster by merely looking at him but I see that you have all tuned into women, and not one of you dares to encounter the animal." 

He ordered them to give him some armour, had a sword and spear brought, and armed himself. All praised his courage, though many feared for his life.

The two barn-doors were opened, and they saw the owl sitting on a cross-beam. He took a ladder and when he raised it, and made ready to climb up, they all cried out to him that he was to bear himself bravely, and compared him to St. George, who killed the dragon. When he had just got to the top, and the frightened owl was also bewildered by the crowd and the shouting, and knew not how to escape, she rolled her eyes, ruffled her feathers, flapped her wings, snapped her beak, and cried, "Tuwhit, tuwhoo," in a harsh voice. 

"Strike home! strike home!" screamed the crowd outside to the hero. "Any one who was standing where I am standing," answered he, "would not cry, strike home!"

He certainly did plant his foot one rung higher on the ladder, but then he began to tremble, and half-fainting, went back again.

And now there was no one left who dared to put himself in such danger. 

"The monster," said they, "has poisoned and mortally wounded the very strongest man among us! Are we, too, to risk our lives?" They took counsel as to what they ought to do to prevent the whole town being destroyed. 

For a long time everything seemed to be of no use, but finally they found a solution.

They decided to burn down this barn - the whole building, and the terrible beast with it. All agreed that noone ought to endanger his life.So they set fire to the barn at all four corners, and with it the poor owl was burnt.

Let any one who will not believe it, go there and ask for himself.

P.S. I adapted the story from Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, "Household Tales", translated by Margaret Hunt