# Owls and Antwerps explained — Driven Back to Eden

> Chapter companion for Driven Back to Eden by Edward Payson Roe.

## What happens

The family learns a moral lesson about judging neighbors after Merton shoots and wounds a screech owl, which they discover is a beneficial creature. They also uncover their Antwerp raspberries with Mr. Jones's guidance, preparing for the spring season.

## Themes in this chapter

### Moral Education and Discipline

The owl episode teaches the family to learn about creatures before judging them, emphasizing knowledge and mercy over superstition.

### Community and Neighborliness

Mr. Jones provides practical guidance on raspberry care, reinforcing the value of neighborly advice in farm life.

## Character check-ins

### Merton

Patrols the farm with his gun, shoots and wounds a screech owl, then cares for it by applying mutton suet to its wing.

### Winnie

Helps tie up the uncovered Antwerp raspberry canes after a heavy rain.

### Bobsey

Assists Winnie in tying up the raspberry canes.

### Junior

Amused by the tame and sociable owl in the evenings.

### Mr. Jones

Advises the family on uncovering the Antwerp raspberries and warns about leveling the ground evenly.

## Key lines

> The moral of this owl episode is that we must learn to know our neighbors, be they birds, beasts, or human beings, before we judge them.

The lesson from the owl incident is that we should understand our neighbors—whether animals or people—before forming opinions about them.

_The narrator concludes the chapter with this moral, advocating for informed judgment._

> Be careful to level the ground evenly, for it won’t do at all to leave hummocks of dirt around the hills;

Make sure to smooth the soil completely, because leaving mounds of dirt around the plants is unacceptable.

_Mr. Jones instructs the family on proper technique for uncovering raspberry canes._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxv-owls-and-antwerps
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters