Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-01-14
STORY OF A CROW.
Checkered Career of Jim. the Children
Pet.

Once upon a time there lived in the
backwoods of Michigan with their ia
Their 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 white calf they called
Rosa, and two kittens named Molly
and Brownie, until one day a crow was
added to the company. Mr.. Smith had
shot it and wounded one of its wings,
but the careful nursing of its new
friends soon made it as strong and
well as ever, and by that time linn 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
misses, 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: We'll now,
you're queer birds aren't you?'
Jim quickly learned 10 answer to his
name and would come out of the dark
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 aud needles,
she never could find any when She
needed them. She also missed num-
Der of buttons from a small box, minus
lid, which She kept on the mantel-
shelf Both children dsclaimed all
knowledge of them, SO all their mann
ma could do was to wonder where they
went
Mr. Smith somewhat prides himself
on being able 10 play on a clarinet.
but had found no time to practice since
be came TO the woods until the first
clearing had been made. Then one
evening he said: "Dick. go up over
head and get my clarine: and well
have tune or two.
Now, overhead-wh was the un-
finished upper story of the cabin-was
afavorite haunt of Jim's, 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. Dicks father took
it, put it to his lips, and blew intoit ex-
pecting tohear its 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 ito"
said Mr.. Smith, giving it a brisk shal1-
ing 10 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.
Its that rascal Jim's work." and as
all the family burst out laughing jim
joined in with a loud 'Caw-caw-caw,
as though he enjoyed the joke as well
as any of them
One day the Smiths went to pay a
visit at the neighbours, leaving jim Crow
and the kittens home to keep house
Ne kittens settled down for . good,
lohh map, 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 so
he got in very easily and hoped around
for awhile in a self-satisfed way
But his satisfaction soon turned to
dismay when, making misstep, he
tumbled into crock of pancake batter
which, by some oversight. had been left
uncovered, Alas! for poor Jims glossy
black plumage. Such a sight as it
was now. With the batter streaming
from his back he scrambled out of the
crock, crept under tho curtain and
down the cat-hole-n hole made in the
kitchen floor to allow the kittens to
come and go Mt pleasure When the
family came home in the evening, there
We're Molly and Brownie purring well
come, but Jim was nowhere To be seen.
The children called and called, but in
vain, and they went 70 bed wondering
what had happened to their funny pet.
and yybPfhap hey should -,-.,,. 80, 49,.
again. II don't believe we ever shah, =
said Dick. And ! don't either" added
Florence, shaking her head mournfully
But the next morning, while they
were sitting at breakfast they heard a
dismal croak which they at once knew
came from beneath the floor, and run
ming to the cathode they discovered
Jim Grow, apparently turned white,
sitting there in most detected and
penitent mood. The children coaxed