Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-03-18
IAIJER.
roOpyright, 1895, by tho Author.l
By TON P. MORAN.

Copyright, 1895, by the Author.l
With one exception, the members OF
tie Baxter household wero honest and
upright. Though life had been some,
thing OF a struggle with them since Mr..
Baxter's death, they had met their
trials bravely, and after each day OF
srrggling, when night settled down
aver the little weather beaten house
under tho tall cottonwood tree, they
sozld so to rest with the simple salts
faction OF feeling that they had done
Iheir best.
The day was fast approaching when.
tho time of residence required Il the
government having been fulfilled, the
homestead CLAIM, would be their own.
Their small crops, cultivated as well as
4 boy whose will perhaps was greater
than his ability could cultivate them,
vero sufficient for their modest needs,
and il their means were scanty their
wants were carefully kept down to
them.
They owed no one. They hated no
one unless it might be Indian Jim, the
worthless half breed whose chief fond
ness was for dirt, begging and stealing,
three things that the Baxters, with one
exception, ;,bominated. They feared no
orc. except perhaps some Of the pomp-
ous. straight backed officers Of the prai-
rie military post of Fort Beal, three
rnilns away, and Of these the younger
B2-ters, with tho same single excep-
tioD, stood mere in awe than fear.
Mrs. Baxter was quiet, painstaking
woman, who worked hard to make both
ends meet in the humble household.
Dnhby Was an Old mannish chap who
slid his hest to FL his fathers place.
And little Martha was faithful at her
-flsks, helping at the dish washing.
mending and sweeping, and dropped
seeds ior Dobby's planting, fed tho
chickens and assisted at whatever else
her hands found to do.
But there was ore inmate Of the little
weather beaten house wBc, though evil
dently considering himself one of the
family, took no care to emulate the
pIobitY rkat marked their daily life,
and apparently feared neither the law
Eor thu cor; Inandmonts. This was Lii
,isr, who Was far from being sanity in
spite Ct t!.3 patriarchial name he bore,
IL doubtful sort Of compliment to the
Bibie story of Elijah and the ravens. AS
Dolby did not know the names of any
cf the ravens, he compromised and did
the next best thing by calling the little
rrow Elijah.
From the very first Lijer's appearance
WIS against him. Even when actuated
tly as good intentions as ever q crow
had, be looked the rascal. When Dolby
toDE him from the parent nest, an ugly,
almost featherless little wretch, his most
prnnineut attribute, like that of
scoundrelly lawyer, was his bill.
His voice ct that time was harsh,
complaining "whauruk," and his de-
light, next to eating, seemed to be in
exercising it rs near continually as pos
sable. He was shameless gormandizer
even when SO small that lie could scarce
Iy wabble about, and the only way to
quiet his cries and his appetite was to
sruif him 60 full Of dough that for the
time being he was past all wabbling.
Ono day, VIXEN half grown, he was
Czsught by the old rooster in the act of
stealing dough from the chickens and
set upon and so severely drubbed before
Dolby could cclno to the rescue that one
of his legs was broken. This healed rap-
idly, but in fashion that caused him
t0 forever after walk with swagger
tilat made him look all the more rascally.
As he progressed to full grown crow
hood ho developed more queer villainies
than it seemed possible for his small
brain TO father. In the matter cf voice,
whatever Lijer lacked in quality he
made up i'll quantity. Besides the
~'caw," common to all crows he ac-
aaircd various notes and modulations
expressive Of wrath, impatience, salts
faction and delight, and what might
have been called kind Of laugh,
harsh, strident "whoor- -hoor- -ha-a-a!"
At feeding times, when his rations Of
dough and meat scraps were placed be-
fcre him, he seemed tho soul of liberal
ity to tho gilileess chicks who would
gather, a half fearful aid always hum
gTy circle, about him. Lijer would as
SIRE them Of his pacific intentions by
sundry clucls and murmurings and
a lCok Of total harmlessness that would
enticc the boldcst Of them to the feast.
He would appear tho model host till Il
chicken got just where he wanted him,