Wichita eagle., 1889-03-07
OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
SlOE AND CROAKER.

The Story Of Three Black Crows and
what Befen Them.
perhaps it VIII be best for you to learn
by experience that good home is hard to
fnd.#
AS she spoke, the poor old mother shook
her head sadly.
The young crows, however, looking on
the bright side Of things, tapped their
wings joyfully, gave the required promise,
and, having embraced their mother, few
quickly away from the old nest in the trees
They few together for some distance, and
at last reached a big stone in the middle Of
afield Although the whole field was Gov
cred with snow, the top Of this stone was
dry, and the three crows sat on it to rest.
For some time they sat in solemn slecce,
thinking hard; but at last the first crow,
who was called Croaker, on account of his
fine voice, broke the silence
Brothers said he, 1--WE are wasting
time We have the whole world before Us !;
let Us not stay longer on this stone. I am
eager for adventure"
80 am l." said the second, whose name
was Smut
The third shook his head
II shall stay here" he said, slowly.
"Did you not hear mother say that the
world was dangerous placer
The two brothers laughed Then they
Mapped their wings and few away. But
the third crow did not follow them
The evening OF the third day found the
mother crow anxiously awaiting the return
of her family. At last, far in the distance,
she caught sight of something flying
towards her. Then, as the something came
nearer and nearer, she cawed loyfully, for
she recognized SHUTS beautiful black
feathers. He was tired and out of breath,
but directly he reached the nest he man
aged to gasp out:
"Croakeri Gonel''
The mother shuddered.
"Croaker-gone; where has he gomez"
she asked.
Smut gasped again, and at last managed
to find enough breath to tell his story.
Mother, it is a dangerous world" he
said. 'When we left you we few together
for some distance, then Croaker and l left
Sioe and few away from him. Towards
evening on the second day we reached
an old house, and decided to spend the
night on one of the chlmneys. 1t was
warm and comfortable, only rather mar
row. Before we went to sleep we talked
a great deal about what we were going to
do in the world, and somehow we man
aged to disagree and quarrel"
"Oh, dea oh, deari' said the mother.
''Tel me the worst, quickly"
SIN our quarrel pushed Croaker, and
"Whatr' said the mother.
He fell mother" said Smut Poor
Croaker fell right down the chimney-right
inside am afraid he must be killed; for,
though called him and waited about all
night, could not hear or see any thing of
him"
The poor mother gave wild "caw."
Just then there was an answering cav"
and Master Sloe came flying up TO the nest
He was very full Of his adventures, and be-
gan talking very quickly, never noticing
that his mother was in trouble, and kept
trying to stop him.
Mother, I've been the wisest crow. I
stayed on one stone all the time, and
thought should be safe there. But last
night heard gun fired and that fright
ened me; and then early this morning I
heard something calling for help, but Of
course didn't"
At last the mother found her voice.
where did you hear something calling
for helpl' she asked. eagerly. 'Was it
crow, Oh, Smut could 1t have been-i'
Then she stopped.
Yes, l think it was crow calling. Il
was not far from the big stone / thought
1t was ghost, and was frightened Do you
know, l thought it sounded rather ike poor
Crackers voice.
The mother did not wait to hear any more.
She few quickly out of the nest, and away
across the fields to the big stone. Smut and
Sloe followed behind, and on the way Smut
explained what had happened to Croaker.
Once more three crows sat on the big stone, |
but this time il was the mother and two Of |
her children, and they were no longer
hopeful, but a sad and sorrowful party |
Three times they called loudly:
''CroakerI Croaker! Croakerw
Then they stood still and listened Was |
il an echo, or was is an answert Surely /
not an echo No echo would make the /
mother start, and no echo would sound so /
close; no echo could come from beneath the {
big stone. No, it was not an echo that an
swered them; II was poor, miserable crow;
d crow bedrsggied, wet, sooty. dirty
bruised and broken winged Smut and /
Sloe stared; they scarcely recognized their
brother; but his mother knew him. No /
amount Of wet or SCOT or dirt could keep her
from embracing her lost child. They car
ned him home in triumph, and then when
Re was once more comfortably settled in the
lest he told them his story.
How he had tumbled down, down, down
he dark chimney, and thought he never
would get to the bottom. How, when he
lid stop falling, he found himself In a
small, narrow place, unable to move How
lie had scratched and cawed. and made as
much noise as be could for many hours, IN
il at dawn be heard a scream, and then
omethlng was moved, and a big hand
,icked him up.
Then he was so frightened that he re-
nem bered nothing more until he found
himself in the open air with broken wing
somehow, he did not know how, he had
truggied 70 the stone, calling now and
gain for help, in the hope that some one
night hear aim.
Wei" said Sloe, when Croaker had fn-
shed his story, II was the wisess crow,
fter all Wasn'tit q good thing stayed
n that stone instead Of going on with |
out"
And Hew away when some one called
Or help" added Smut
MY chi'dreu.n said the mother, "this Is
% time for quarreling. lie. US be thankful
our brother Is alive and safely home again
10 you want another three days sdvent-
res in the world without your mother tc
uide you, or have you learned by ex-
erience that good home is hard 70 6ndr'
The three young crows said nothing in an (
wer TO their mother: but they though. q
ood deal-Li.sie Folks.
A Big Pair of shoes.
a shoemaker a. Atlanta. Ga, has fCst fn-
he'd the largest pair Of shoes ever made r
II actual use. Ii took piece Of leather
loo square inches 70 make the
I 90 -a e1laS