Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-11-22

Didn't como up with the rest OF the
crows. Too lazy TO hy such distance.
Don't you know that this is the best tree
for building crows nests in all this
section?"
ut Is, oh? Well, why in thunder do
you keep crows from building nests In
1t, then?"
"You are green. You don't seem to
know as much as you did when you were
Q. Fassett, Esq. I'm IN officer Of the
law, l am; an officer OF crow law, and
old Jim Crow owns this t-ee, and II the
law didn't protect him every crow would
want to build q nest in its branches and
not pay old Jim any thing for it That's
why I'm here. Iguess know my duty.
My number is POOL. and II you want to
know any thing about me you just 60
over to the station house. May DO
you'd like to build a nest here your
self. Well, you just try it on and I'll
run you in so quick it'll make you
dizzy"
WELL" said Mr.. Fassett, meekly, 81
thought owned this tree. but II 1t be-
longs to Mr.. James Crow wish you would
tell me how he came to own 1t"
THAT'S easy enough. He bought 1t
from another crow. Ask me something
harder"
'How did the other crow get it?"
"His grandfather gathered twigs and
built nest in 1t once, and the family
has kept policeman here over SINCE"
replied the crow with an air that said as
plain as plain could be, ''that settlesit,"
and Mr.. Fassett's knowledge Of the law
assured him that 1t did settle it.
The two crows were silent for time.
Fassett's thoughts reverted to his inter
view with the builder, and he had just
begun to wonder whether he would ever
sell those lots when his companion told
him he mustn't be lettering there, but
move on. So Fassett moved on. Spread
ing his wings he was surprised to find
how easily he sailed through the air.
Passing over the corn field he recognized
his hired man and few toward him, but
his hired man let fly charge Of bird
shot, which whistled past Mr.. Fassett
and assured him that his hired man
made up in vigilance for what he lacked
in craftsmanship.
Taking fight again, Fassett went in
the direction OF large tree in the for
est, where he expected to alight; but
lust as he reached it o whole flock OF
crows few at him from the branches,
croaking, ''scab! scab! scab!"
Not understanding what this meant
Fassett continued in his course, when
the crows rushed upon him, and but for
the timely interference Of two other
crows, policemen rs he afterward learn
ed, Mr.. Fassett would have been denud-
cd OF every feather on his body. As 1t
was, he nearly lost the use OF one eye.
But he had the satisfaction Of seeing
the ringleaders of his assailants taken
before magistrate, half-demented
old crow, who administered severe pun
ishment, after lecturing the offenders
on the freedom OF labor and the GRIMM
atty, not to say heartlessness, of pre-
venting any crow from working for .
living.
All this seemed very strange to Mr..
Fassett, who was not yet familiar with
crow usages, but he subsequently learn
ed that the tree toward which he was
going was great mandatory of crow
nest materials, and tho crows that work.
ed there were on strike. They mistoOk
him for scab, and hence the trouble.
BY this time Fassett was quite hum
cry, and curiously enough his appetite
suggested worms as tempting bill Of
fare. So he few down to corn field,
and was scratching away, when flock
OF strange crows ordered him on.
"But / am hungry" said Mr.. Fas-
sett.
mo doubt Of it." said the leader Of
the crows; ''but why don't you work for
living like an honest crow"
"Do crows work for living?"
''Of course they do. How do you sup
pose they get living?"
Mr.. Fassett thought good many of
them got living by stealing his seed
corn, but remembering that he was q
crow himself he didn't say so. Ho only
asked what they worked at.
'Some of them make up nest materi-
ais, some gather the materials, some
collect corn, some build nests, some
guard the trees that belong to absent
crows, and some guard worm preserves.
replied the crow boss. ''If you are real
ly an honest crow" he continued, and
want to make living, you can join my
flock and I'll give you job"
"What's the pay?" asked Mr.. Fassett
falling in with the humor OF this con-
ceit.
"A worm three times day and a place
to roost"
"Mr. Fassett accepted the job and
found that the principal duties Of the
flock were to guard the worm preserves
of his boss from the invasions Of other
l.. l.. IL