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On a bright summer day an owl was fast asleep in the hollow of a tree. A grasshopper came along and sat on a branch of that tree and started singing loudly. This woke up the owl who came out of the hollow and requested the grasshopper, "Friend, your singing disturbs my sleep. Will you please stop singing? You may go somewhere else and sing."
The grasshopper said, " I have not stopped you from sleeping, have I? Why do you stop me from singing? I feel like singing and I will continue to do so."
The grasshopper knew that owls cannot see during the day and he was out of reach of this owl.

He felt safe and continued with his singing.
The owl thought, " This grasshopper appears to be obstinate and will not listen to my request. I have to think of some way to get at him and stop this disturbing noise he calls singing."
The grasshopper kept on singing and the owl kept on listening.
After sometime the owl said, " Dear grasshopper! I never knew that you could sing so well. Your voice is so sweet and melodious. Instead of wasting my time sleeping I feel like sitting here and keep on listening to you. I was under the impression that only the cuckoo has a sweet voice. Now I can see that your voice is by far the sweeter!"
The grasshopper was flattered by the owl's praise. He said with pride in his voice, " Well mister owl at last you have learnt to appreciate good music and not only your hoots. Now listen to me and fill your ears and soul with sweet music. I will sing specially for you today provided my throat does not go dry."
The owl said, " I have never had the opportunity to listen to such sweet songs. I am lucky that singer like you has come near my home to sing for me. You need not worry about your throat getting dry, as there is plenty of water inside the hollow where I live. Please keep singing and you can come into the hollow to drink water as and when your throat gets dry."

The grasshopper puffed up by the owls appreciation started singing louder than before and kept at it until his throat went dry.
S he stopped singing the owl said, " Please come here and drink some cool water. Your throat will feel better."
The grasshopper flew into the hollow of the tree to drink water. The owl was waiting for this to happen. He jumped on the grasshopper, caught him in his beak and gobbled him up.** Then the owl went into the hollow and had a peaceful sleep."
** Owls feed on small and medium sized insects.