The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-06-21
THE DRUNKEN CROW IN AFRICA.
Story of u Mischievous and Very Wicked
Bird.


As Bobby grew older porridge diet
was no longer to his taste, and he be-
gan to pick mp a dishonest livelihood
in the poultry yard. He would fly to
meet us in the morning and perch on
our shoulder with an impudent as
sumption of innocence, quite uncon-
scious that the yellow sickness of his
bill revealed that he had been break
fasting on newly laid eggs. Then he
took to eating the young chickens, and
here his talent for mimicry provided
him with many a delicate meal; for he
could initiate the maternal call of a
fowl to perfection. Many battle was
fought by the hens in defense of their
deluded offspring; but Bobby nearly
always scared of triumphantly with
his prey to the top of the windmill,
where he could enjoy the fruits of his
poaching in security. One day he stole
some food that had been mixed with
wine for a sick fowl that wanted
picking up" Presently the Kaffir
cook, hearing sounds she could not un-
derstand. ran out to see what was the
matter. There lay Bobby on his back
idioticaliy drunk, his little black feet
kicking aimlessly in the air, and his
wide open bill emitting the most ex-
traordinary noises that had ever been
heard even from his voluble and versa
tile vocal chords. This episode Gre
ated q decided taste for stimulants.
From that time Bobby haunted the
store-rOom with even more than his
former inquisitiye pertinacity, sitting
on the top of the cask when the wine
was being drawn for meals, bending
down and twisting his neck to reach
the stream as it flowed into the Jug;
gradually he learned to turn the tap
and help himself, so that great caution
was necessary that he should not re-
main alone in the store, as he learned
to turn the tap back again. Unfortun-
ately Bobby reveled in mischief, not
for the sake of any good which it
brought him, but from some inborn
''cussedness." He was never SO happy
as when busily engaged in some work
of destruction, and when discovered he
would retreat to safe distance, and if
pursued, would always manage to keep
just out of reach, though not too far
for one to see the triumph of enjoy
ment in his wicked old eye, and to hear
his defiant croak as he strutted ahead,
looking back triumphantly over his
shoulder. 1t was most provoking on
going to the garden to find that the
few rows of peas or French beans,
which had been raised with much trou-
BILE. were all rooted up to make play
for Bobby. The culprit himself would
probably be out of sight, for his gar
dening operations were usually car
ried on in the early morning; but once
he was caught SO deeply engrossed in
putting the finishing touches to row
of beans which he had pulled up and
laid in their places with more than his
usual neatness, that he only looked up
in time to see his angry master a few
yards off picking up large stone. In
an instant the imp's mind was made
up. Instead of attempting fight and
probably getting hit by the stone, he
impulsively threw himself on his own
er's generosity, perched on his shoul-
der, kissing him rapturously, and at
once winning the pardon he so little
deserved. Another piece of mischief
was carrying off everything bright;
such as spoons, or forks, and one day
a razor, and dropping them into the
well. For this he had been forbidden
the house, and Toto, the collie, learned
to turn him out the instant he appeared
inside the doors. Bobby became very
Jealous of Toto and the other pets,
which, less mischievous than himself,
were allowed in doors, and he especial
ly delighted in teazing the little SURF
cate. He would come noiselessly be-
hind, and catching the tip of Ming's
tail in his bill, would lift the little fell
low off his legs, take him few feet in
the air, and drop him suddenly Then,
waiting a few minutes until Ming was
again off his guard, he would repeat
the performance. The suricate-a
plucky, independent little person-re-
sented the insult deeply, chattering and
scolding vehemently. showing his rows
of shark teeth as he hung helplessly
by the tail; but he was powerless
against his prosecutor, and had to sub
init to be whisked up unexpectedly as
often as his tormentor, by right of
superior strength, chose to indulge in
this practical joke. Sunday RepieaO.