Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-03-02

at the door, snd said to me, "If YOU
had only told me the worst, would
have tried to be strong for your sake
my dear husband;" and then-well,
sir, l knew nothing more for forty
eight hours. When l awoke to con-
'sciousness rose from the bed, partial
ly dressed myself, and went out and
stood bareheaded beneath the leaden-
gray November sky; and when l felt
the wintry wind, and saw the ground
white with snow, and realized that it
was the winding sheet Of our darling
boy, felt that could almost follow
the advice of Jobs wife, Course God
and die"
Standing in the yard, l noticed that
large flock of crows had gathered in
the field yonder, nearly half a mile
from the house. / watched them for
some time without seeming to heed
them. l saw them flying swiftly
athwart the heavens, jOstling each 9TH
er in their haste then, when they ap-
peared TO have reached one particular
spot, they would soar high in the air
for an instant, and swoop down, almost
touching the ground, to rise once more,
mounting higher and higher in cir
Gle, until, flying over my head, they
would again dart back to the field; all
the time uttering their harsh cries,
which seemed to bid ne "Search ~
So strongly did become impressed
with this idea, that l started toward
the place, bareheaded and half clothed
as | was, and SO weak that l could
hardly stand.
1t was long time before l reached
the spot over which the crows were
lowering; but, as approached it l saw
by the side OF d url, Nithered stalk
crouched as though iUr protection from
the rude blast, ID rabbit. Imagine my
feelings when / recognized it as uuI
uarling boys pet, nearly dead from
hunger ana cold. The instant saw il
| knew that had found our boy-that
! Benny was there. | lifted the hall
frozen creature carefully to one side
and, kneeling, quietly removed the
cold snow from the body of our dar.
ling. l remember taking him in my
arms, and kissing his cold lips; but
how l reached the house l can't tell
| only know that l laid him in his
mothers lap, and that she looked uI
In my face, with sweet smile, anC
said:
81 have been waiting so long for you
to bring dear Benny back to me, Paul !!
when | again returned to conscious
ness, Benny had been buried two
weeks, and was told that the physi
clans said he had undoubtedly dropped
dead from aneuriSm of the heart. haC
it not been for those crows, sir, his lit
LII,
cold ground, unburied, until spring.
Now, sir, you know why l didn'
want the crows shot. L don't otter
speak Of this, our great sorrow; but
feel that an apology was due you fol
the unceremoniOuS manner in which
interrupted your shot, and perhaps
: there was something in your face tina
told me that you would understand tht
motive that prompted me in spOilin!
your anticipated sport. And now, with
your permission, we will return to the
other room. My wife will be glad t
talk with you, for it is not often tina
we see gentlemen from the East so fa
: West as this"
; | thanked my host for this story, anC
assured him that ever after l would re
: spect crows Tor his sake; nor have
killed one since.
We returned to the sitting room, ant
L spent delightful evening in conver
satien with my charming hostess anC
her husband and the next morning
after partaking of delicious breakfast
L bade my new friends good.by, anC
returned to my boarding house, quit,
: satisfied to go back empty-handed.
have often, since that time, had ths
pleasure of visiting Mr.. Millmore anC
his wife at their charming Iowa home
but the subject of crows we have never
mentioned since my first introduction