Though they were so different in many ways they became great friends , and at length set up house together , one passing the day in hunting and the other the night . In this manner they did not see very much of each other -- and perhaps agreed all the better for that ; but at any rate they were perfectly happy , and only wanted one thing , or , rather , two things , and that was a wife for each . ' I really am too tired when I come home in the evening to clean up the house , ' said the eagle . ` And I am much too sleepy at dawn after a long night 's hunting to begin to sweep and dust , ' answered the owl . And they both made up their minds that wives they must have . They flew about in their spare moments to the young ladies of their acquaintance , but the girls all declared they preferred one husband to two . The poor birds began to despair , when , one evening , after they had been for a wonder hunting together , they found two sisters fast asleep on their two beds . The eagle looked at the owl and the owl looked at the eagle . ` They will make capital wives if they will only stay with us , ' said they . And they flew off to give themselves a wash , and to make themselves smart before the girls awoke . For many hours the sisters slept on , for they had come a long way , from a town where there was scarcely anything to eat , and felt weak and tired . But by-and-by they opened their eyes and saw the two birds watching them . ' I hope you are rested ? ' asked the owl politely . ` Oh , yes , thank you , ' answered the girls . ` Only we are so very hungry . Do you think we could have something to eat ? ' ` Certainly ! ' replied the eagle . And he flew away to a farmhouse a mile or two off , and brought back a nest of eggs in his strong beak ; while the owl , catching up a tin pot , went to a cottage where lived an old woman and her cow , and entering the shed by the window dipped the pot into the pail of new milk that stood there .
The girls were so much delighted with the kindness and cleverness of their hosts that , when the birds inquired XXXXX they would marry them and stay there for ever , they accepted without so much as giving it a second thought .
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