Algernon Blackwood

“ Toby went to bed, feeling rather despondent. He curled up. Nannie lit the night-light and went out. He lay thinking, wondering, questioning. Corncrakes were calling in the distance. He heard the owls, too, hooting in the woods beyond the back lawn where the gypsies camped. He remembered that his Uncle disliked these gypsies, because they were what he called a “nuisance,” but it was the owls he listened to now. Such wonderful, mysterious birds they were! He often heard them hooting in this way after sunset. ”

“ But how on earth could an owl prove itself useful to anything or anybody?
Only two days were left till his birthday dawned. Nothing happened. He didn’t know what to do. His Uncle was away most of the time. Once or twice they met in the hall or in the garden, but Toby knew better than to say anything. He believed in his Uncle as he believed in his prayers. He had made sure of his cat and tortoise. The less said now the better. His Uncle looked solemnly at him, and he looked solemnly back. ”

“ Two minutes later the white shivering figure had been bundled back into bed, and the big man, though in a much quieter voice, was telling him how naughty he was, while he poked him, smacked him, tickled him. ”

“ Toby explained then: The Brown children down the road had a pet owl in a cage, the White family up the hill had a beautiful Persian cat that was always having kittens, and the Green’s boy across the lane had a tortoise. So why shouldn’t Toby Black have them too! He explained at some length his point of view.
His Uncle, however, didn’t approve of presents of this sort.
“Pets,” he declared, “are nothing but a nuisance in the house. They’re noisy and messy, and they’re always getting lost. Besides, they’re no use. My money comes from making useful things. ”

“ He repeated it. “Yes,” she agreed, “it would.”
“Will you tell Uncle?” asked Toby, quick as a flash.
“Yes,” she agreed, “I will. I certainly will.”
“A Persian,” suggested Toby, “is best for mice.” But Aunt Sophy thought he said something about her “pet aversion were mice,” and this took a long time to explain and straighten out.
Nannie had to help, for Toby was now too excited to bother about long words like “aversion,” which he didn’t understand. He was wondering all the time what to call his pet when he got it. He felt sure now he would get it. In the end he decided he would call it “Sophy.” ”

“ After that, he spoke:
“You’re as clever as a Cat,” he said, “as plucky as a Tortoise, and as wise as⁠—as a nowl. You’ve proved that all three are useful, and you shall have all three for your birthday⁠—tomorrow. Because⁠—I promised.”
And next day, sure enough, Toby got them all three, though how his Uncle managed it he never knew. He called the cat Sophy, the tortoise Percy, and the owl Gypsy; and all three were what Uncle William called a “perfect nuisance about the place, and quite useless into the bargain.” For Sophy spoilt all the best chairs with her claws and never caught a single mouse ”