The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-08-12
a aueer ret.
THE ODD Wars OF A TAME cRow-TRuE
1HE FAMILY WEAKNESS.

TIE FAMILY WEAKNESS.
A writer IN Chqmbers's Journal says: Oh
ali our nets among the laud birds, selec,
for special notice the hooded crow. ne IS
not a beautiful bird, certainly; 0ut ne
makes up for his not handsome appearance
hv MS exceeding cleyerness. We had one
I'm narticuIar for many years. we caheu
MIN Crabbie because OF his sidelong moue
Of nrooression when not on wing. Ills
liberty was seldom restricted, unless
Inc had been guilty OF some prank
more than usually audacious, and thes
hIs punishment would be day or
two,s confinement, which he greatly hated;
hat he soon managed TO coax us into giving
him his freedom, aud manifested the utmost
gratitude 10 his Iiberator. His moral sense
was At least IS obtuse as cats. lie ue-
lighted In stealing, simply as II seemed TOT
his own sake, not because be could MAKE
any use OF his plumber. Spoons, neeuies'
wires, pirns Of thread. balls OF WoIsteu,
little ones shoes and socks, anything anu
everything that was portable 10 "nIcn ns
could get access, be would carry OH anu
carefully hide, covering them over WIN
bits OF turf; and then wiplng MS OH
in the most self-satisbed manner, mop
away as though he had periol nleu
highly meritorous action. Aus 10,
The haf.knitted stocking which might
be left on q chair or table, u CraDDle Wa
about. Tue wires would quickly be pulled
ont and removed, and the stockings torn 10
ts,ters. | caught him one daY-and an
Intensely droll hgure he cut-hopping out
~ doors with n pipe I'm his bill. On an
other occasion he made of with piece OF
tohocco. We never could make out
whether be had any intention OF MN
self irving the soothing effects OF Tue
weed. He had, or affected to have,
Great dislike to bare feet, as the htlle
hoys who often came to the house WIN
ha:keis OF sillocks or with messages, had
mt TOO good reason TO know. On the WnO'e,
he was on terms OF very good friendship
with the dogs and cats but 1t always al
torded him exquisite delight to tease tnem'
particularly 10 pinch the point OF an out
stretched tail il the owner thereon happened
m bc asleep. and pinch OF his sharp ana
noweriul bill, whatever pleasure 1t might
AFFORD him TO infict, was no joke to his We
tim.
Once an old woman was bringing mes
Gaze TO the house. Just as she was cross
ing stile Crabbie's quick eye fell on tne
spotIess cap which adorned the old lazy
head. 1t was an opportunity too tempung
10 be resisted. Down be swooped, neatly
plucked off her head-dress, and win
Triumphant ezra, Cra," flew away win II.
Not being aware there was any such " I'M
csDnv brute" about the house, her con-
sternation may be imagined; ana when she
anneared al the back door Dereft OF her
white muslin mutcb, and told, in tones
Of Mortified agitation. how she hau
been despoied OF it by Il "craw,"
she met with much sympathy from
the domesticS, who hated Crabble with
most perfect hatred. Aud little wonder
thew hated bin, for be leased and tor
mented them numerically, and by his
neyer.ending tricks often imposed upon
Them a great amount Of additional work.
For instance. clothes on the bleaching green
ne seemed to regard a. spread out for the
sneciaI Durposc OF ailOrding him an oppor-
ltunity Of showing how completely be could
soil them. At any rate, what he ana, when
ever be got the chance, was to march ana
| hon ali over them in the most systematic
manner. with the drticst effect.
What | am about to relate will appear TO
many incredible; but having frequently
witnessed il, | can youch for its accuracy
I'm every particular. Our old cook was an
expert dresser Of the fine shetland shawls
en- well known and 50 much priced. II j.
mite AN accomplishment 10 be able 10 dress
| these delicate flbricS, and none but a
shetlander can do it properly. The
shawl. having been washed and slight
| Iy starched, is stretched over the
hlescbisg green, few inches from the
Ground. with 4 multitude OF wooden pegs
| like pencils, and allowed to dry IN the sun.
Crsbbie would sit on some wall at little
distance intently watching the proceedings
Of the Old cook, who particularly dctested
him. and with whom he had standing
fend. Then he would fly OF. and presently
return with the very iiithlest and Welte>t
clod he could find, and OF set purpose droD
il upon the Outstretcbed shaw, thereby
rousing the righteous Indignation OF poor
Meggy, who gave expression to her wrath
| ful and outraged feelings in language
much more forcble than choice; all
which did not in the least affect Crab
bic or disturb his equanimity. In these
WAYS, however, he got to be such 4
nuisance that it became necessary on
bleaching days. or when shawl was being
dressed, to make sure be was not at large,
else the bleaching or dressing was certain
to prove labor lost. But then he soon got
so exceedingly cumming and adrolt IN
avoiding capture that it was often lmpossi-
| bile to secure and contine him. At last, as
we could fall upon no plan Of curing him
of his thieyish and mischiCYOus propensi-
ties, we were obliged, most reluctantly, TO
mart with our poor Crabbe. who was sent
| 10 friend in the South.