The Osceola times., 1881-10-08
THE CROW As A PET.
stories Of tho Birds Pcculations-ita Natur-
al Tendency TO Thrift.

Ofall our pets among the land birds,
select for special notice the hooted crow.
He is not beautiful bird certainly; but
he makes up for his not handsome APP
pearance, by his exceeding cleverhess'
We had one in particular for many years
We called him Crabbie because oil ms
sidelong mode Of progression when not
OF: wing. His liberty was seldom re,
stricted, unless he had been guilty OF
some prank more than Usually audacious,
and then his punishment would De
day or twos confinement, when he
greatly hated; but he soon managed TO
coax us into giving him his fir, edom, rnd
manifested the utmost gratitude 10 hl-
liberator. His moral sanse was at least
obtuse as a cats. He delighted in steal
inc simply as if it seemed for his own
sake. moi because he could make any use
of his plumber. Spoons, needles, wires,
rirns of thread, balls of worsted, little
ones shoes and socks, anything and
everything that was portable TO which
he could get access, he would carry OIL,
and carefully hide, covering them over
with bits of turf; and then wiping his
bill. in the most self-sustained manner,
hop away as though he had performed
highly meritorious action. Alas for the
halfknitted stocking which might be
left on chair or table, If Crabbie was
about, The wire wouldquickly be pulled
out and removed and the stocking torn
TO ,atters. caught him one day-and
an Intensely droll figure he cut
hoping out of doors with a pipe in his
bill. On another occasion he made on
with piece of tobacco. We never could
make out whether he had any intention
of himself trying the soothing effects OF
the weed. He had. or affect TO have a
great dislike to bare feet, as the little
bows who often came to the house with
baskets of sillocks or with messages, had
but too good reason to know. On the
| whole, he was on terms OF very good
friendship with the dogs and cats; but 1t
always afforded him exquisite delight TO
tease them, particularly to pinch the
point of an putstretched tail, If the owner
thereof happened to be asleep; and a
pinch of his sharp and powerful bill,
whatever pleasure it might afford him
to infiict, was no joke to his victim.
Once an old woman was bringing Il
message to the house. Just as she was
crossing a style, Crabbie's quick eye fell
on the spotless cap which adorned the
old body's head. II was an opportunity
too, tempting TO be resisted. Down he
swooped neatly plucked off her head
dress, and then with a triumphant era,
! era" flew away with it. Not being
aware there was any such "uncanny
brute" about the house, her consterna-
ton may be imagined; and when she ap-
peared at the back door bereft Of her
white muslin mutch, and told, in tones
of Mortified agitation, how she had been
| despoiled Of it by "craw," she met with
much sympathy from the domestics, who
| hated Crabbie with most perfect hatred.
And little wonder they hated him, for he
| tcased and tormented them unmerciful-
", and by his never-ending tricks often
| imposed upon them great amount OF
additional work For instance, clothes
on the bleaching green he seemed to re-
gard as spread out for the special pur-
pose off affording him an opportunity of
showing how completely he could soil
| them At any rate, wlat he did, when
ever he got the chance, was to march
and hop all over them in the most sys-
tematic manner, with the dirtiest effect.
What am about to relate will appear
to many incredible; but having frequent
" witnessed it, can vouch for it's accu.
racy in every particular. Our o.d cook
was an expert dresser of the fine Shet-
land shawls so well known and 80 much
priced. 1t is quite an accomplishment
| TO be able to dress these delicate fabrics,
and none but Shetlander can do it
properly. The shawl, having been wash
ed and slightly starched, is stretched
over the bleaching green, a few inches
from the ground, with a multitude Of
wooden pegs like pencils, and allowed to
dry in the sun. Crabbie would sit on
some wall at little distance, intently
watching the proceedings of the old cook
who particularly detested him, and with
whom he had standing feud. Then he
would fly off, and p esently return with
the very filthiest and wettcst clod he
could find, and of set purpose drop it up
on the outstretched shawl, thereby rous-
ing the righteous Indignation Of poor
Meggy, whs gave expression to her
wrathful and outraged feelings in Ian
guarge much more forcible than choice;
all which did not in the least affect Crab
bic or disturb his equanimity. In these
ways however. he got 10 be such a nuis.
ance that il became necessary on bleach.
ing days, or when a shawl was being
dressed, to make sure ne was not at
large, else the bleaching or dressing was
certain to prove labor lost. But then he
soon got 80 exceedingly cunning and
adroit in avoiding capture that it was
often impossible to secure and contine
him. At last, as We could fall upon no
plan of curing him of his thievish and
mi chievous propensities, we were oblig-
ed most reluctantly, to part with our
poor Crabbie, who was 7ent to a friend
in the South.