Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-02-07
JACK.
Doin9s 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
and-tan. had fallen a victim to the
habit of chewing book-covers, and
mysteriously disappeared-the chill
dren 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 he was gone on
a. Journey through the central part of
theState. a card came to the children
saying. with delightful brevity: "A
gentleman of color, named Jack. will
arrive by the express tomorrow"
Every one said: "It's a dog, of
COURSE" and the Roscoe boys turned
somersaults. while the Roscoe girls
shrieked with delight, and they all fell
to guessing what he would be like.
Tomorrow came, although it seemed
to them that it never would, and John
was sent to the express Office with many
inlunctions and warnings from the
children, who sat in a row on the fence
to wait his return. He came back with
a small box not more 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 box that they could only see in
distinctly a small black object inside,
and they rushed off to the basement
5 with their booty.
AS soon as the Stats were torn off,
out there stepped. no dog at all. but a
stately crow, black as charcoal, and
glossy as satin. He shook out his
feathers solemnly, and strutted about
the room indifferently. amidst the ex-
CARNATIONS of the children, with the
air OF gentleman of travel and ex-
Perience. We all crowded around him.
and he good-naturedly allowed himself
to be strOked, giving occasionally
husky little croak, and looking de-
cidedly bored.
He appeared to be very tired with
his journey. and we prepared perch
Tor him in one corner of the room,
where he Immediately settled down for
a nap. He dozed the most of the time
for the next two days. and the children
began to think he was a stupid fellow.
But by the morning of the third day
he came down off the perch, shook out
his wings and gave his tail a flirt, as
much as to say: Richard is himself
again" We soon found that his
solemn, indifferent air was only cloak
for the slyest, most mischievous spirit
that ever animated the breast of
bird; hat every thing he did was SO
novel and entertaining. that we gave
him 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 on
the basis that man was made for the
crow, and not the crow for man.
AS the weather was still too cold for
him to stay out of doors, we gave him
the freedom of the basement. Never
was there happier bird. For several
days he busted himself nearly every
moment, prying into cracks and cor
ners, and examining every thing great
and small with intense interest
He carried potatoes from the bins
and laid them in long rows on all the
empty shelves. He made choice col
lecticns of apples and carrots in dark
corners. and had his favorite hiding