Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-04-12
JACK.
Doings OF the Intelligent Gentle-
man In Black.


the first time in Its history. Ivanhoe,
the black spaniel, had been stolen;
Federal. the Newfoundland. had died
OF old age, and Lady Jane, the black
nnd-tan, had fallen a victim TO the
habit OF chewing book-covers, and
mysterlously disappeared the chill.
dron never knew where.
Father Roscoe had promised the little
Ro scoes. with his hand on an ivy leaf
from Federal's grave, that he would
improve the first opportunity for buy
ing fine dog. While ho was gone on
journey through the central part OF
the State, card came TO the children
saying, with delightful brevity: "a
gentleman OF color. named Jack. will
arrive by the express tomorrow"
Every one said; "lt's dog, OF
course" and the Roscoe boys turned
somersaults. while the Roscoe girls
shrieked with delight, and they all fell
10 guessing what no would be like.
Tomorrow came, although II seemed
20 them that 1t never would, and John
WIS sent TO tho express office with many
iniunctions and warnings from the
children. who sat In row on the fence
10 wait his return. lie came back with
small box not mere than two feet
long.
"Oh pshaw! It's another terrier"
exclaimed Joe with look OF disgust.
and all felt disappointed. The Stats
were nailed so tightly over the top OF
the boN that they could only see in
distinctly small black object inside,
md they rushed or to the basement
with their booty.
As soon as the slhts were torn of,
out there stepped, no dog at all, but n
stately crow. black as charcoal, and
glossy ms satin. He shook out his
feathers solemnly. and strutted about
the room indiTercntly, amidst the ex-
c!amations OF the children, with the
air OF gentleman Of travel aud ex-
pcrieEcc. We all crowded around him,
and he good-natredly allowed himself
to be stroked. giving occasionally a
husky little croak. and looking de-
cidedly bored.
lie appeared to be very tired with
his journey, aud we prepared perch
for him in one corner OF the room,
where he Immediately settled down for
nap. He dozed the most OF the time
for the next two days. and the children
began TO think he was stupid fellow.
But by the morning OF the third day
he came down of the perch, shook out
his wings and gave his tail firt, as
much as to say: "Richard is himself
again" We soon found that his
solemn, indifferent air was only "a cloak
for the slyest, most mischievous spirit
that ever animated the breast OF a
bird; but every thing no did was SC
novel and entertaining, that we gave
him a great many privileges which we
came afterward TO regret.
At first IT seemed to embarrass him
to have any one stand before him, and
look at him long. He would turn his
head to one side, open and shut his
eyes slowly, turn up his toes and pick
his toe-nails. and act very much like
an awkward school-boy. But this
slight trace Of modesty soon wore
! away, and he established himself or
the basis that man was made for the
crow. and not the crow for man.
As the weather was still too cold fol
him to stay out OF doors, We gave him
the freedom OF tho basement. Novel
wns there n happier bird. For severa
days ho. busied himself nearly every
moment, prying into cracks and cor
ners, ard examining every thing grea
and small with intense interest.
He carried potatoes from the bins
nnd laid them in long rows on all tn,
empty shelves. He made choice col
lections OF applos and carrots in darl
corners, and had his favorite hiding
places for any small objects he hap
pencd to come across. r,.'
In one Of the cellars there was al
open cupboard devoted TO einptybottles
and various odds-and-ends of crocker!
ithat were not good enough to be Of an,
use, but too good to throw away
When all othof sources OF amusement
palled upon him, he sought this spo
with ever new delight. lie arrange,
and rearranged the pepper-boxes an,
teacups nnd salt-cellnrs, croakinl
softly to himself us he ratified bacl
and forth. stopping now and then :,
view the eject with an air Of grea
satisfaction.
' He was passionately fond OF play
ing in the water, and II did not talk
him long to find out whore we wen
| for It. He would fly up into tho sinl
twenty times day. where he Away
found basin Of water standing. Afte
walking back and forth through it fo
+! a few minutes, he Invariably gathere!