The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-12-28
VOL. X--NO. 8.
displeasure by Tapping his wings and
cawing in uuarrelsome notes.

not only annihilated his much hated ad-
versary by filling up the entrances to
subterranean dens, but he became an ac-
tual catcher of rodents. He would creep
up to the edge of rat hole, and crouch
for hours in wait for prey, nabbing the
unsuspecting rat by the back of the neck
and Staying him before he had time to
resist. After such deeds of prowess Jim
would chuckie and flap his wings in bois-
ferrous exultation.
The fence which divided Jim's back
ward had the usual and inevitable knot
hole. What well regulated American
housewife is there who would be willing
to occupy any premises that had no knot
hole, giving full view of clothes-line,
ash pile, Kitchen, etc., We answer, with
pride, none. Jim's mistress and her
neighbor, being on good terms, used to
come and sit on either side of this knot
hole and talk.
This exhibition of neighborly inter-
course always excited Jim to the highest
degree, and while his mistress looked
through the aperture he endeavored to
lo3k, too, and if the conversation was
the least animated he was crazy to look
through at the neighbor on the other
side. Any unusual noise in the other
yard always brought him hurriedly to
the knothole, and sitting upon the back
of chair which stood there, he would
peer through till he had found out the
cause or quiet had been restored. On
one occasion the neighbors were engaged
for two or three days in making apple
butter, this labor being carried on in the
back yard near the knot-hole. No event
ever happened that ELECTED SO much at
tention from Jim. For hours he would
perch on the back Of chair with his
head through the aperture, deeply
absorbed in the scene transpiring on the
other side of the fence, and evincing his
interest by occasional chatterings,
evidently of pleasure. Jim was a great
lover of apple butter, and his great inter
est in the process of making it may have
been due to his appetite therefor.
Jim had great fondness for sports of
all kinds, but his favorite amusements
were broom-riding and ball-playing.
Little Daisey Galbaugh, girl of seven,
was his playmate, and it was Jim's de-
light to ride the broom while she pulled.
A string was attached to the handle end
of the broom TO serve as line, and the
crow sat upon the straw end and held the
string in his bill, pulling away vigorously
when he wanted to stop. Occasionally
he would jump from the broom and run
holding the line in his bill and
guiding the little girl who furnished the
dragging power. He had as much love
for this pastime as though he had been a
child himself, and frequently astonished
those who saw, him by the rational and
humanlike way in which he participated
in it. His love for ball-playing was re-
ma1kable. OF course he could take no
part in the actual throwing or catching
of the ball, his participation being
limited to running after it, cliDching it
in his bill, and carryingit to the thrower.
The children who played with Jim fire.
quently We'd with him in running after
the ball, and ifthey beat him in the race
and got the ball, he exhibited his disap-
pointment by croaking away in quarrel
some notes. When Jim participated In
the game ball was always used which
had been slightly picked and torn so he
might readily seize and transport it. Jim
also had language of his own. He
loved music, and when his mistress sang
to him he signifed his pleasure by soft
and gentle croakings, if croak can ever
be said to be soft and gentle. When any
thing displeased him he indicated it by
harsh and discordant notes. He seemed
to know something of argument too,
sometimes disputing or stalking back
for an hour at a time. If told to do
thing which he understood but did moi
wish to do, he would quarrel and grum
BILE like a child driven to some unpleas
ant task.
He was a great imitator, and readily
took to anything he saw children do
When his mistress was away he watched
for her return, and always ran to the
gate to meet her. His wings were never
clipped, and he never attempted to fly
away. One day thief seized him as he
sat on the fence, but he raised such
squall that the neighborhood was aroused
and he was rescued.
Itwould be quite impossible to enumer
ate all the tricks to which Jim was ad
dicted. He was never SO well pleased a
when picking the things from his mis-
tress's work basket. Like a child, hi
would take them out one by one, ant
scatter them over the floor, but neve
think of replacing them. He understood
most any simple order, such as to come
or go away, or be still, or lie on his back
or hold up his foot, ETC., but he was no
always obedient, except to those who ha'
right to command him, whom b
readily distinguished from others.
He had special hatred anu fear c
dogs and colored people, and would nc
stay in their presence. If either mad
an appearance in the yard, he would g
squalling to his mistress in a state
great excitement and Indignation, an
refused to be comforted as long as th
disturbing cause was about. Jim alwa!
remained in the dining-room at me;
time, and eat with the family. He woul
take his dinner seated on the back of
chair, and was not at all dainty in h
choice Of food, showing an evideI
ambition to eat everything of which Il
family partook.
, One morning Mrs. G. went into IL
bathroom, where she found Jim perche
upon the bath-tub, and evidently droo
ing and sick, In obedience to a call