The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-08-03
DOTS TAME CROW.

Ihere are many animals tnaJ can De
tanned to pet, beside cats and dogs. |
have seen sheep, foxes, coons, white rats,
and even toads; but the best bird is a
crow. My little Dot heard her papa say
there were some crows near by, high up
in the crotch of tree, and she wanted
to see them, but she could not climb SO
high. Her big brother Tom said he
would get them for her. How brave he
looked climbing that tree! He found two
little crows, and as he did not wish to
rob the mama crow, he only brought one
down. Oh, what plump, funny looking,
featherless bird he was, with bright
bead-like eyes, and his heart beating SO
rapidly with fright that Dot said,
"Ob, Tom. take him back to his
nest!'
But Tom replied, 1--WE will put him in
cage and feed him bread and milk, and
see what he.will do"
In short time little Mr.. Grow grew
into beautiful black bird, and would fly
in and out of the cage at any time, he
was so tame, and when he wished to be
fed he would cry Cav! caw!" 30 sharply
that Dot knew just what he wanted.
Dot said, II think he must brush his
feathers to have them so glossy, and
l wonder if it hurts as much as when
nurse brushes my hair"
Mr.. Grow grew to be great thief,
and would take any thing he could lay
his hands, mean claws-on, even
grandma's silver spoons, and would fly
into the ridge pole of the house, and not
even Dot could call him down. Once he
hid some spoons, and we never could
find them. Dot taught him to say hal
loo" quite as plainly as a parrot, and
such long conversations as they carried
on when he perched himself on Dots
knee! He would look at her, wink his
eyes, turn his head first one way and
then another in very wise way, and
Dot thought he understood every word
she said
Dot had flower bed, and he used to
help her weed it by scratching the earth.
One day heard her say. Naughty Mr..
Grow. you have scratched up my pansy."
Then he few on to her shoulder, tried
to peck her lips, and she said, that's the
way he kisses me and asks forgiveness"
Once lady came to the house, and
Dot took her into the garden to pick
some flowers. Mr.. Grow went, too. and
he would fly about and snip off the
flowers with his bill. and the lady asked
Dot where he kept his scissors" He
was 80 fond of red flowers that he
shipped off every bud from the red rose
bush.
Sometimes he would be gone few
days, and Dot said he was visiting his
relatives" Once when he returned he
looked 30 funny. He had tried to swal-
low wee little mouse, but the tail still
hung out, and he had such time trying
to get it down his throat! But he sue
ceeded at last.
One day, Dots mamma put a. kettle
of red raspberries on the stove to boil
for canning. She left the room mo-
ment, and when she returned, what did
she see but Mr.. Grow in the middle of
the kettle, eating berries as fast as he
could He looked up just long enough
to say, "halloo," which meant, II am
having good time!'
He grew 80 mischievous that at last
Dots mama had him carried long way
off. Dot felt very badly, and-yes, she
cried. too, and wouldn't you? But she
told me very quietly, that "the next
spring there were SO many tame crows
about, that she knew Mr.. Crow had sent
she was."-EGdminer