Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-12-29
For the Young Folk.
A Crow Convention.

When we were children, ages and ages
ago, We lived with dear grandpa, and had
chance to find out many things that stick
10 our memory most pleasantly. We used
to go to church with him, in big, heavy
chaise, and old Bill logged along pretty
pert, till we got to the long hill. Upon the
top was one of the brightest of fields for
sunshine and wild flowers; while in the
autumn the chestnut woods behind it glow
ed with gold and green. There were two
or three great rocks sticking up their bare
gray heads in one corner, and one lonely
pine tree in the middle, trimmed of its
boughs nearly to the crown. We always
looked eagerly to the top OF this old pine,
on Sunday, and seldom failed to see what
we expected, sentinel crow. Many a-time
have we stopped old Bill and let fim break
bIrah branches along tn roadside that we
might have the fun of watching the crow
convention which was going on in the pas
ture. He crunched the dry lunch Of the
birch leaves with excellent relish, but we
only enjoyed with eyes and ears. Over on
the farther side full fifty crows were col
lected. and many more were frequently
added to their number; and what was sur
prising, the arrivals were made in silence,
and met with no caws of welcome.
Whatever was the cause of this we did
not ascertain, but we presume the dignity
of the occasion prevented undue levity.-
There was a low, dignifed sort of CONVEX
SatiOn carried on among the crowd for
time. and then, particularly loud voice,
with a pompOus sound in it, erled like
beadle-caw! cav! cawl The whole com
pany was cawed 10 order and silence en-
sued. Then arose the speaker on midnight
wings, and circlingS,See around, he settled
on the highest rock, and began: ''Caw
caw!' musical, eloquent, persuasive
speech He became vehement. His beak
was lifted high in air He strutted from
end to end of his natural platform. His
steps were taken with unusual dignity and
pride, indicating his appreciation of this
''auspiciOus hour"
But it was evident that he failed to
please. His audience began to grow un-
easv and to venture on remOnstrance or
argument. Then he waxed positively
grand He swelled out his glossy plumage
until his breast was as round as robins.
His little brilliant eyes shot flame; his
wings were fapped as if for fight, and yet
he fingered, willing to bear with his un-
grateful and unappreciatlve hearers as long
as pOlnpOsity would admit; but soon he
was driven from the stage. Two small
crows were commissioned to make way for
a more pleasing orator, and they attacked
him right merrily, until he retreated to
distant wall, to sulk over his defeat in 81
lence.
A splendid specimen of crOwhoOG now
walked with great deliberatiOn up the side
of the rock, turned to face his companions,
and-grandpa always said he saw HIM make
a bow. but sOmeway, | don't remember
about that, for | was interested in what Oc-
Cured rs soon as he began to speak. lie
evidently said: Il wish some Of the breth
rem and deacOns would step up here and
keep me company. | think your calling on
me to cav is quite an uncalled for pro-
ceeding and | prefer to have my friends
to support and correct me if | blunder."
Six crows followed him to his elevated
position, and he addressed each one with a
wv cordial sentences. Then again, with
J;.rs, s,Nified pose he commenced: "NOu viii
iii cor NabOrate me when ! allude To IN!
,.orD,,le,csN and say: friends, 1t Is corn =
VI oor,, is the cause! and never was
'.,,,,.t,t ,.at \ 9weyer much the farmers
I' - - ,,, wit me, Caution ON my
'','., Ia oorros,,op ding cunning, has cost
ihen hem ',t''i st ia,si a peck lo6is year advise
,,,r''' a, nd ali in tins cauous to follow
,''.of,,iTy INV example. Keep away from
cnrds strung ABOUT the fields; put a9u l.,,, oe
frigbtened at the corpse Of Que ei your
number. Have a Gordon Of psehels on
guard, and then pick up all the corr. 20, you
can find. CorpuleRce of body and eotGeu'-
ment of mind will be the result.
"Caw! cav! caw!H hurrahed the loly
and delighted crows in concert. Indeed
we will rifle the cornfelds, and the farmer
must look sharp or We will cause his ue-
struction.' 49,
Gee up, old Bill, said grandpa, driving
along. ''What is the use Of precauuon
when yon have such an incorrigible enemy
as that? Let them pull it up il they want
to, have caught my last crow. And IN
the distance we could still hear the omln-
Gus voices crying. ''caw! cawl eawV