Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-08-30
A LITTLE STORY FOR GENTLE
MEN.

Dlru $1,000 on 1ence-rall cOnverSlng
They stood but that was their way OF
sitting, for they were quite at theil
ease. The blackbird looked gratefully
mp TO the large relation who spoke tl
him SO kindly; the crow, who wears
Sunday clothes all the week, and
couldn't be more digniGed, even with
spectacles, spoke as follows:
lyon blackbirds are doubtless aware
that We look upon you with tender ad-
mlration; In tact, some have gone SO
far as to consider the blackbird Hea-
ven's first best gift to the crow"
I" First best gift; how pretty" said
the blaokbird and he straightway made
it into little song.
THAT'S right, said the crow; 81 am
pleased with you we don't sing Cur
selves because-becaw-bt cav" here he
set his head on one side and stopped to
ponder.
Because you can't p suggested the
blackbird, r, spectfully.
Not ut all, said the crow "it's be-
Gavin fact, it's question of spheres.
Our sphere, yOu observe, is the world :;
for instance, we see to the weather, and
presi ie over corn paintings, and hold
conventions, and continually prepare
new tneorems concerning that still un-
fathomed mystery; but why oppress
with these pOnderous themes little,
simple sOngster?"
But you would. perhaps, explain"
said the blackbird, with Difference.
" | refer to the question, the question
of this and preceding ages, why men,
when they have prepared Ms a field of
corn, end by stretching unmeaning
lines across it, and even erect strange
beings, with spreading arms, in the
midst. These things do not help us
on the contrary, they are unpleasantly
.bewildering. Why, then ? 1 never shall
rest until ! find out why"
That comes of your logical mind"
said the blackbird.
am pleased with you," said the
crow, and getting down from the fence,
he stepped about on the ground in a
highly superior manner.
How distinguished! thought the
blackbird. "And we. sir?"
You? oh-haw. We do all these
things, and you sing to us while we are
doing them. You've no idea how in
spring 1t is to us, when We are engaged I
I'D these important matters, to know
that you are sympathiZing at distance,
suiting your nice little tunes to all our
changes, and setting, 80 to speak, our
lives to music. Haw!'
90 how sweet" said the blackbird,
beginning at once to whistle it. "But
suppose, he suggested, "just suppose,
you know, that some of us didn't like
singing, or wished to try those other
ways of living?'
"That wouldn't do at ALL" said the
crow, coming back. "You must be
tond of singing. A crow without a
blsckbird to ameliorate him 1t might
subvert the uDities. Haw!"
Still, if we should" said the black
bird, with timid persistence.
"Then," said the crow, severely,
I" you would lose your influence :" and
again he got down from the fence, and s.
stepped about.
Dear, dear" said the little one,
"Tll never do it. Please,
sir, what is influence ?"
Influence, my child, is that beauti-
ful-haw that ndescribable-caw In c
short, it means that, if you only take T
pains to find out what we like to do, Won
AN almost always soothe us in doing it.
But, whatever You NAV think of our
lOings, always remember that our
ligh-toned nature cannot brook CEN \
ure, and that the only way to preserve
our influence is to meet lis with
ong." e
"I1l try to remember" the blackbird ?
aid, and they parted. v
The ext day, Jack and Jenny Il
slackbird were happy, feeding their a a
rst brood. "
There's a shoulder for yo1," said !. II
emmy. Sweet, sweet, spread out u
our wings. think they'll fly by to-
lOrrov."
II consider this really remarkable - -
louth," said Jacky, dropping a worm -
/ it. al don't see why, with our So :. -
al advantages, we couldn't train them r
} be almost equal to crows. I'm sure " "
nr cousin will visit us. And he says 81 :,
we want to keep on good terms we " "
ust always meet him with a song, and +,
, constantly careful not to lose our =
huence." =. 10
What's that ?" said Jenny. "Do see T, =,
Nv he balances! He'll certainly fly !"
: tomorrow.
81 don't know exactly; but we keep Oh
by letting then have their own way, a
ID especially by singing; and if we ca
ne it, they'll be sure to despise u.s." ey
!" You don't say sor' said Jenny. he
That we couldn't endure. All, Hea- tn
2 above, what's this?' sa
or - thing suddenly swooped e,
DpD0t md carried of the m,
r1m 3ne1u. "youye