Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-03-11
The Blackbird and Crow.

Once upon time crow and black
bird stood on fence-rail conversing.
The blackbird looked gratefully up to
the large relation who spoke to him so
/ kindly; the crow, who wears Sunday
clothes all the week, and couldn't be
more dignifed, even with spectacles,
spoke as follows:
"You blackbir are doubtless aware
that we look upon You with tender ad-
miration; in fact, some have gone so
/ far as to consider the blackbird heavens
| first best gift to the crow"
First best gift-how prettyr' said
the blackbird and he straightway made
it into little song.
That's right" said the crow; 81 am
pleased with you; we don't sing our
selves because-be-caw-caw"-here he
set his head on one side and stopped to
ponder.
Because you can't" suggested the
blackbird, respectfully.
"Not at 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
preside over paintings. and hold
conventions, aud continually prepare
new theorems concerning that still un-
fathomed mystery; but why oppress
with these ponderous themes little,
simple soDgstress ?"
"But you would, perhaps, explain"
said the blackbird. with Difference.
81 refer to the questionable question
of ages preceding this-why men, when
they have prepared us field Of corr,
and 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 bewil-
dering. Why, then ?-l never shall rest
until find out why"
That comes of your logical mind,
said the blackbird.
81 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
bla.kbird. "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 it is to us, when We are engaged
in these important matters, to know
that you are sympathizing at distance
suiting your nice little tunes to all our
changes, and setting, so to speak, our
lives to music. Haw =
'Oh. how sweet T. 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 fond
of singing. A crow without a blackbird
to ameliorate him? 1t might subvert
the unities. Hawr'
"Still, if we should, said the black
bird, with timid persistence.
"Ihen," said the crow, severely, "you
would lose your influence and again
he got down from the fence, and stepped
about.
Dear, dear" said the little one trem-
bling. ''Ill never do it. Please, sir,
what is influence
Influence, my child, is that beauti-
ful-haw that Observation-Disclosures In
short, it means that, if you only take
pains to find out what we like to do,
you can almost always ,othe us into
doing it. But, whatever you may think
of our doings, always remember that
our high-toned natures cannot brook
censure, and that the only way to pre-
serve your influence il to meet us with
a song"
"I'lI try to remember" the blackbird
said, and they parted.
The next day, Jack and Jenny Black
bird were happy, feeding their very first
brood.
"There's q shoulder for you," said
Jenny. "Sweet, sweet, spread out your
wings. 1 think they'll fly by tomorrow"
II consider this really remarkably
mouth" said Jacky, dropping worm
into it. 81 don't see why. with our So
cial advantages, we couldn't train them
to be almost equal to crows. I'm sure
our cousin will visit us. And he says
if we want to keep on good terms, we
must always meet him with song, and
be constantly careful not to lose our in
fiuence."
whats that ?" said Jenny 'Do see
how he balances He'll certainly fly by
tomorrow"
81 don't know exactly; but we keep
it by letting them have their own way,
and especially by singing; and if We
lose it, they'll be sure to despise u.s."
"You don't say so" said Jenny.
"That we couldn't endure. Ah, heaven
above, what's this ?"
For something suddenly swooped
down into the nest, and carried off the
fedgling in his talons.
"Oh, cousin" cried Jacky, "you've
made a mistake-you've got our eldest
child T.
''Yes, I'm quite fond of them" said
the large cousin, affably. "What a nice
little pair you arel But why don't you
sing? As 1 told you, We always expect
to be met with song"
''But you've got our child" screamed
Jenny. ''Oh, you're hurting him."
81 won't hurt him more than I must"
said the crow, considerably. "But, par
don me if / notice-hawl an absence of
that serene cheerfulness which ought to
be q distinguished blackbird trait.
What still no music? Then begin to
suspect"
"Let us try our influence" gasped
Jacky; perhaps it may soften him.
And they began to sing a wavering song.
"How improving that is p said the
crow, with a claw suspended. "Really
there was one instant when / felt so ex-
alted that was on the point of putting
the morsel back in the nest, if it hadn't
been so juicy. However, may be won't
come back for more"
"Still, let us sing" said the parents
"if we lose our influence he will eat
them ALL" And while be was picking
the little bones, they sang until their
voices failed with anguish.
S,an tIa;r larc-o concin Loft hut raxt