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

human being and she repeated her cry
of; Poor Alfred Poor Alfred I" piteous-
ly,and that other with which she used to greet
his coming: "Alfred's here Here's AL
fredl" but with the unlocking of the door
she flew away, perched on the window-sill
and finally vanished.
She went straight to the Office where AL
fred's disappearance was just discovered,
and perched on the desk of the head of the
establishment
He was fine old Quaker with quick OBJ.
servation, and when no looked ut her, he
saw cut upon her neck and some ruflling
Of her feathers. She was trembling, and
seemed TO desire him to do something.
Finally she flew up to table, and took
from it his hat. It was trick Alfred had
taught her. When he put it on his head,
she hoped to the floor, and hoped on,
looking back, saying, follow me-" as
plainly as dog does.
The old Quaker gentleman obeyed, and
the bird led him through the public streets,
until she reached low building that sat
far back in what once was garden, now o
wilderness of sunfowers and other strong,
coarse weeds, Up the path of this deserted
place she hopped passing cistern full of
ill-smelling winter and broken blue pump.
Boards were nailed across the porch. 1t had
the air of an empty house, but Sphinx, fly
ing up to the sill of queer little window,
with broken sash, looked down and
screamed in heart-rending tones:
Poor Alfred Here's Alfred P-o-o-o-r
Alfred Here's Alfred until the street
rang.
There was not, the old gentleman used TO
say, the least doubt in his mind rs to the
fact that Alfred was in the building. He
sat down on the pump-box, and calling n
small boy, sent him to the nearest maeis.
! trate with note, written on torn leaf of
his pocket-book
Meanwhile, he would not leave his post.
The house seemed deserted, but about noon
man opened the gate and came in with
basket in his hand. He did not see the
Quaker gentleman, but going to spot con-
cealed from the street by the rank foliage.
began to unlock tho paddock of a cellar
door. At this instant tho Quaker called to
him.
Do you live here, friend 2'
No." said the man. :" only come il
here to eat my dinner. I'm poor working.
man. The house is empty"
Don't go away, them" said the Quaker.
g 1 am man of peace, but thee must sit
down and be quiet for while, or 1 may
make thee uncomfortable.
The man laughed uneasily.
There used to be n crazy man here
he said. Seems to me you're another"
Poor Alfred Alfred's here |" shrieked
the raven from tho window.
The man uttered curse, and dashed
toward the street. The Quaker caught him
by the arm, and at that moment the help
for which he had sent arrived.
The house was entered, Alfred found tit>.
to the floor, and liberated, to his unspealS-
able joy and through his description OF
the men, and the confessions of their nc
complete, they were secured before they
could make away with their booty.
Sphinx had saved her masters life, per-
haps, as well as his reputation, for they
were desperate men who had him in then
power.
He rewarded her by an ardent affection
and it lasted oil his life-for she outived
him. When she died, she was believed to
be ninety years old and her black form,
carefully stuffed and protected by n glass
case, is still in the possession of lady of
the family. Upon the pedestal of the case
is engraved, in letters of gold, her name,
Sp'sinS; and it is claimed that her brain is
four times as large as that of any ordinary
raven. That, however, may be tho doing
of the taxidermist.