Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1891-01-04
BILLY BLACK.

W. ncu CuattIuS UuUeT Tue piuIuy, -Io-
,rant, white lilac, Mrs. Morris ran out, in
leighborly, country fashion, to shake hands,
% commend the delicious weather, and to
say:
Il am just back from Thompson, where
I went to attend my widowed cousins
funeral, and ! brought little Clinton, the
only child, home with me. am not sure
that it was wise thing to do. You know
there is not child within mile of us. Do
you think the little fellow will die of lone
liness?"
Certainly not, providing you set COM
mon sense and experience at work" replied
the pastor. do you ever make purchases
of new stock for the farm, or have you ever
had new dog or cat?"
"Scorss of them, of course
did you ever have one die Of homesick-
ness? ?"
Certainly not"
"How have you managed to make them
contented?"
"Oh, have taken pains to get them
wonted by giving them plenty of what they
like best to eat, by letting them have all the
liberty possible so that they will not get an
idea that they are in prison. Then, too, l
talk to them, and pet them little, and try
to make them fond of me-"
well, do the same by the boy won't
your
Mrs. Morris went back into the roomy
farm. house, pausing to glance at the pale.
faced child asleep on the wide sitting-room
lounge; but looking as if his great sorrow
and loneliness pervaded even his dreams.
What can do to give him an appetite?"
she thought; "he has eaten hardly any
thing for days. Oh, know" And she
sped away to the pantry.
As soon as he awoke, Mrs. Morris, with
little basket en- her arm, asked him to 90
with her to give the calves some salt.
The child complied Gstlessly. de was
almost overcome with inconsistencies and
want of food, she knew; but she chartered
pleasantly as they passed down a green
lane. crossed the singing brook that gave
the farm its name, and struck into mar.
row strip of woodland where
Cav" Cav" "Caw," Cav" seemed
to be shouted st them from every direc.
ton.
what commotion there is among the
crows" says Mrs. Morris; II wonder what
the trouble can be with them?"
Pm the trouble said laughing voice
from high chestnut tree. Don't think
me dreadful boy because have robbed q
crows nest and torn it to pieces. Mr.
Minis found it, and was going to fire into
ii and kill the little things; but l begged
him to let me save them alive. l dom
know as l can get down with them. The
old crows are so enraged they seem deter.
mined to pick my eyes out. Isn't it funny
to hear them scold?"
bol VI " oh tal - -,
with animation. 81 can climb that hem.
lock tree that is so near the chestnut, and
you can drop the little things into my hat
and | will Keep them for you until you
come down below me and are able to take
them;" and up the slim hemlocz went ten.
year-old Clinton like q squirrel.
well. well, that is boy complete said
Mrs. Morris, sitting down upon a rock
He has forgotten his sorrow for a min.
ute"
He forgot himself for some time, for il
took a great deal OF maneuvering to gel
those crowlings to the ground in safety.
Mrs. Morris had thousand things to dc
at the house after her four days absence
but she possessed her soul in patience, ano
studied her little protege.
When the two BOYS came to her with
their prize Charlie Carr, the nearest neigh.
bors's son said: f1 -.
Your cousins boy over there where
you've been, / suppose? Mr.. Parker
called and told us, so started right out tc
get one of these crows from him to tame
There's nothing SO interesting, or that vii
take up any ones mind like tame crow
about the house. 1t is funny that ht
should come along and help me TO eet
Them"
"A tame crow about the houseln The
notable housekeeper fairly shrieked; bu
she shut her lips resolutely snd said nosh
ing, as Charlie went on kindly: -
Now, my little friend. take your pick. ,
How nice in Charlie" thought the good
woman. Little friend; ! would
not have been capable of. saying anything
SO captivating as that. l have not even
called him dear, | do believe"
Clnton's face frightened with pleasure
at the idea of that big boy, who owned q
gun and climbed high trees TO break up
crows nests, calling him little friend"
II think this one is rather the prettiest, y
he said; and Mrs. Morris forced cough tC
save herself from laughing outright ct the
idea of there being degrees of beauty in
halffedged crows!
do YOU suppose we can make him eat?
asked Clinton, regarding his new treasure
with great affection.
I'VE will make the attempt said Mrs
Morris. "Come on, Charlie, we will have
a lunch on the big rock while the calves
are eating their salt. / have supply OF
goodies in my basket, and there is a cold
boiled egg-just the thing for Billy Black >
sob, that is what we will call biml Thai
is fine name, Aunt Matte" said Clinton
with animation. st makes me hungry to
see the voracious little fellows open theil
mouths"
The pretty Jersey calves were hungry
too, for salt, and Charlie, being boy, had
of course good appetite, so the picnic on
the big rock by the calf pasture bars was
enjoyed by all present.
Tine little stranger was nourished by the
hearty meal he made, and he felt that be
had found two new friends; and that com.
forted him so much that he was never again
so utterly and deplorably wretched as be
had been before.
Charlie Carr was right in his prediction
that Billy Black would furnish plenty o.
entertainment.
| presume that never crow found more
hospitable welcome in any well-regulated
household; and he paid his way by max.
ing himself agreeable Immediately.
He knew his little master right away
and began to utter words almost as soon as
ne udu " say CdW.
In order to have crow talk his tongue
must be slitted," said an elderly neighbour
but although Billy Blacks tongue re,
manned intact he soon had at his command
quite vocabulary.
He mimicked every sound he heard
from the turning of the cofIee-mill to the
calling of the chickens; and his fame went
abroad throughout the township, and mar
velous stories were told about him, most OF
them true, am bound to confess.
"Charlie, Clint, Rover" he would shrek,
''cows in the corn ~ and he took up such a
bad habit of flying into the cherry tree near
neighbor Spears bedroom window at
o'clock in the morning and shrieking,
Spears Spears get up get up p that he
had to be confined at night in the tool
house.
The boy at Morris's is sassy little var
MINT" said old Mr.. Charter one day when
Billy was about a year old. Every time
l drive by there be hollers Charter! Char,
Char. Char, Charter from the time / come
in sight of the place until get over the
hill"
ut isn't the boy, it is the crow" said
Pastor Parker. to whom this complaint had
been made.
~ don't believe it, said the old man,
IF it's crow, tell you what, it is be-
witched one"
ANY one would think so to see him go
on from morning until night" said Mrs.
Morris, when she heard of this remark.
He steals everything he can carry, from
my thimble to the silver spoous, and hides