The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-01-06
STORY OF A GROW.
Chockered Career of Jim, the Children
Pet.

ChocIsered Career of Jim, the Children's
Pet.
Once upon time there lived in the
backwoods of Michigan with their IA
ther and mother, two children named
Dick and Florence Smith.
Mr.. and Mrs. Smith were not well-to-
do people, SO Dick and Florence had
scarcely any of the toys and other
things that help to make life enjoyable
to most little folks The Smiths had
bought piece of wild land, and, by
dint of hard work and careful saving,
had managed to clear few acres, and
become possessors of several cows, a
horse and some chickens. The chill
dren had helped along by picking up
sticks and chips to throw upon the
burning log-heaps, and feeding the
cattle and fowls. Their only play
mates were a white calf they called
Rosa, and two kittens named Molly
and Brownie, until one day crow was
added to the company. Mr.. Smith had
shot it and wounded one of its WINGS
but the careful nursing of it's new
friends soon made IL as strong and
well as ever, and by that time i'm was
perfectly tame and on the best of terms
with the whole family.
Even the kittens who at first arched
their backs and greeted him with loud
Kisses, gradually grew accustomed to
his society, and made no objection
when he walked up to them and peeped
into their faces, with comical express
sion as much as to say: "Well now,
you're queer birds aren't youp'
Jim quickly learned to answer to his
corner in which he was fond of hiding,
the moment he heard Dick or Florence
calling: where's Jim? Here Jim,
JIM" and perch on their knees or
shoulders.
Jim had great fancy for anything
bright, and all shining objects small
enough to carry in his beak he carried
off whenever they were left in his
reach.
Mrs. Smith complained over and over
again that no matter how often she
filed her cushion with pins and needles,
she never could find any when she
needed them. She also missed num-
Der OF buttons from a small box, minus
d lid, which she kept on the mantel-
shelf. Both children disclaimed all
knowledge of them, so all their man.
ma could do was to wonder where they
went.
Mr. Smith somewhat prides himself
on being able to play on a clarinet,
but had found no time to practice since
he came to the woods until the first
clearing had been made. Then one
evening he said: "Dick, go up over
head and get my clarinet and we'll
have tune or two"
Now, overhead-which was the I'M
finished upper story of the cabin-was
favorite haunt of Jims, and he spent
many hours there hopping about and
talking to himself, and when Dick
brought down the clarinet he cooked
his head to one side and looked at it in
amysterious manner. Dick father took
it, put it to his lips, and blew intoit ex-
pecting tohear it's tones ring out loud and
clear, but 10 and behold! it did not give
forth the slightest sound "Why, what
in the world is the matter with it?'
said Mr.. Smith, giving it brisk shak.
ing, to which brisk rafting respond,
ed. And an investigation following,
what do you suppose they found in that
musical instrument? All the pins. nee.
dies and buttons that had been missed
and many other small articles that had
not been missed.
ats that rascal Jim's work." and as
all the family burst out laughing jim
joined in with a loud "Caw-caw-caw, y
as though he enjoyed the joke as well
MS any of them.
One day the Smiths went to pay O
visit at the neighbor's, leaving Jim Crow
and the kittens home to keep house
The kittens settled down for a good,
long nap, but Jim thought he would
take look into the pantry and see
what refreshments he could find there
A curtain served as a pantry door, sc
he got in very easily and hoped around
for awhile in self-satisfed way.
But his satisfaction soon turned Il
dismay when, making misstep, ht
tumbled into crock of pancake batter
which, by some oversight, had been lef
uncovered. Alas! for poor Jim's glossy
black plumage. Such a sight as i
was now. With the batter streaming
from his back he scrambled out of tn,
crock, crept under the curtain anC
down the cat-hole-a hole made in tn,
kitchen floor to allow the kittens L
come and go at pleasure. When tn,
family came home in the evening, Their,
were Molly and Brownie purring wei
come, but Jim was nowhere to be seen
The children called and called, but il
vain, and they went to bed wonderin,
what had happened to their funny pet
and whether they should ever see hin
again. Il don't believe we ever shall,
said Dick. And don't either" adde,
Florence, shaking her head mournfully
But the next morning, while the,
were sitting at breakfast, they heard
dismal croall, which they at once knew
came from beneath the floor and run
ming to the cathode they discovere,
Jim Crow, apparently turned white
a. Il I'll