The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-08-12

upon him. One day there was boiled
sweet-corn-for dinner, i and a. he was
very fond of ii, the end of an ear just
! from the kettle and very, very hos, was
given him to see how he world manage
with it; he seized it with his bill. dew
i to the old-fashioned well-bucket, which
was full, held the corn In the water
moment, then dipped it in and out I'M
+ til cool, when he dew to the threshold
with it and daintily picked off the kerr
nels with triumphant and self-satisfed
air. while the would-be iokers acknOwl-
edged themselves ouswitted. 7--ss---------
Having no kinsfolk, Grip would fra
ternize with whatever came IN his way,
and entertained most friendly feelings
toward some black chickens, caring
nothing for those having white or
mixed feathers. The chickens hardly
knew what to make OF his advances,
flor they were queer-sIieh as pHlling
their feathers. picking at their feet
and eyes; sometimes, though, he would
fiji his throat with corn and disgOrge
for their benefit. which soon placed
them on She best of terms. And it was
sorry day for Grip when his chums
were selected for a fricasse. The exc
cutiOner came along carrying pair of
black chickens squalling loudly. Grip
heard their cry of distress aud fastened
to the rescue; the head of one was
placed upon the block, but their cham
pion made such a furious onslaught
upon the executioner, flying in his
face, pecking and scratching, that the
sentence was suspended, at least until
the indignant bird was secured and
placed in the hands of the authorities.
. A friend in need is a friend indeed"
and the crows championship for his
suffering friends would put to shame
the constancy and bravery of some of
mankind.
The wild crows were at variance with
our pet, probably despising him because
he ate pie instead of dead horses, and
if he flew toward the woods he was inn
mediately driven back by them, and
often it was necessary to 90 to his
rescue. So, an outcast from crow sOci- ~
ETY., what wonder that he sought that
of humankind-lik best to be in
his mistress room, when he would fly
upon her chair-back and take down her
hair as deity as any lady's maid. He
would carefully pull out the hair-pins,
and when the last was out and the hair
came tumbling about her shoulders,
would whirl and hop about and chuekle
with delight at the mischief he had
done.
This Is true tale, and it is pity to
end it as do the fiction writers of the
day, by drowning the hero; but such
was poor Grips fate. He was fond of
standing on the well-curb, and-of look
ing4intO the wells mysterious depths.
He had often been scOlded and driven
away, but, like some boys and girls,
he thought he knew best, and the re-
suit was that he lost his balance and
his life He had been in the water
but a few minutes, but the well was
so deep that it was impossible to get
him out until he was quite dead. He
was enshrouded in white paper, which
was pinned with black pins and tied
with black ribbon, and his funeral was
conducted with great ceremony-his
mistress being chief mourner. 1t was
aimatter of great regret that he could
not be put beside that famous crow in
the Appian Way; as it was, spot
of unclassical ground received his re-
mains, and was duly decorated with
Scarlet flowers. .' g.. .'t -"-t
Poor Grip! His untimely death was
much regretted, and his mischieyOus
pranks missed; but now that June has
come again, perhaps the sharp-eyed boy
will bring another tledgling of the crow
family, one that will in a measure fill
his p1ace.-M Y. 7TibHne. Ftt SOW