The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-12-24
INTERESTING STORY.
A RAVEN STORY.


a great many years ago, once saw a number
of children tormenting a raven, and out of
pity he paid them a shilling for the bird, and
took it home. The poor thing was very
much hurt, but he nursed it himself As it
grew better it objected to leaving him at any
time, and chose to perch upon his shoulder
whenever he went anywhere.
He taught it to do many curious tricks
play sort of game of cat's-cradle, pick out
the notes Of tune with its bill on n piano,
spell words with letter-blocks, and to talk
better and moro to the point than any par
rot.
1t was quite delight to him to have this
knowing bird ON his shoulder while he was
boy, but as he became man, of course
he did not wish 10 be conspicuous, or 10 be
looked on as an odd and eccentric person,
and, Sphinx-which was the ravens name
was generally left at home.
Often, however, she would escape and
follow him, and several times appeared at
church, where she conducted herself in q
very correct and serious manner, and said
the responses with tho congregation, hav-
ing perched herself too high to be easily
elected, to wit, on the top of the organ.
When cd, her owner, was employed
by large business firm down town, she
frequently appeared there, and soon became
great favorite with everybody. On one
occasion drunken porter attacked Alfred
violently, but Sphinx, at that moment
perched on chair back in the office, flew
at him, and SO determinedly pecked at the
brute's eyes that he fled in terror. Other
wise Alfred, being alone, young, slender
and delicate, and the porter man of six
feet four, and stout in proportion, would
have had a very poor chance of escaping in.
jury. aF3
In fact, Sphinx became so we'll known on
the road between his masters house and
place of business that he often perched un-
molested on the roof of o stage which went
that way, and got off at tho proper street,
like any other passenger. -r.,5-
One day, exactly how or why do moi
know, it became Alfred's duty to take
large sum of money from one point to an.
other, and in doing so to cross what was
called the Collect. 1t was n marshy spot,
lying, 1 believe, where that queer Egyptian
building called the Tombs now stands, and
greatly feared after nightfall. Alfred car
ried pistol, but he was, as we have said,
small and slight, and when in the middle
of the Collect he was attacked by three men
he was powerless. He was bound and gag
ged, and as they led him away the men
threw cloak over him. He could not call
out for help, and the constable who was
passed by the group thought the young man
in the cloak intoxicated.
Only ono living thing knew what had
happened Sphinx, who had followed him,
as she often did without his knowledge,
flew several times into the mems faces, and
only left them at the door into which they
pushed him, cursing the black bird, who
seemed to them demoniac.
Once within tho house, they dragged
him to a room, in which was only one
high window, and tied him to ring in the
foor
The poor boy, who was distracted with
helpless misery, begged them to tell him
why, since they could have taken the money
without taking him, they had done SO. One
of them cody replied from behind his mask
that they did it in order that he should be
suspected of the theft.
'While they search for you, we can get
away to Europe" he said. Murder is
dangerous. We shan't kill you. Some one
will feed you every day. Meanwhile, you
will do nothing by making noise, even If
1t is heard A mailman shrieked in one of
these rooms ten years before he died"
Left to himself, the poor boy almost lost
his own senses.
The grief of his parents would be terrible
and that his employers should think him
dishonest was beyond all bearing. The loss
of liberty was much in itself; and he i'm.
plored his prosecutors to Sc. him free. They
only laughed at him.
They left him alone. Shortly after, o
man brought him bread and cheese, and
some beer, and unbinding his right hand,
held pistol to his temple while he swal-
lowed some of the food; reminding him
when he declared that he could eat no
moro.
Left to himself. he had relapsed into mad.
dening misery, when low cav fell ON his
ear, and looking up, he saw in the patch OF
moonlight TINT fell upon the wall through
the window high above his head, the shad-
ow Of bird.
He looked up. The bird had entered
trough broken pane, and stood on the
Sindow-sill. A thrill of hope entered his
soul He called "Sphinx, y and the winged
creature dropped through the air toward
him. 1t was his raven. She showed every
sign of affection and it comforted him to
have her nestle against his neck ma ba aanl