The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-05-09

like a blue ribbon striped with silver.
On the north are mountains, tall and
woody, on the western bank many
hotels and cottages where people
from the city come to rest during the
summer. They row their boats for
pleasure, and catch fish in the bright
water or gather lilies with golden
hearts, and greatly enjoy the life on
the lake among the hills. On the east
ern shore are fine and productive
farms, which furnish good things for
the people i'm the hotels and cottages.
Mr.. Beeman's farm was at the north
east corner of the lake. He was a car
penter as we'll as farmer, and had a
shop near one Of his farms, where he
did all sorts of work with his yalu-
able tools. He had contrived an ar
rangement to catch fish, too, that was
not only convenience to him. but
a great source of profit Near
his farm was the beginning of the
stream called the Asptuck. This Is
the outlet of the lake, and rushes along
through the valley with considerable
force Many mills are run by it
saw mill, grist mills and cider mills.
The trap Mr. Beeman constructed
was designed to catch the fish alive.
The trap was so arranged that they
entered a box-like affair, from which
they could not escape. The water
flowed through it and the fish apparent
ly were contented and could be caught
at any moment. Mr.. Beeman supplied
some of the hotels with bass, pickerel,
suckers and ellis. 1t was a source of
income to him and no trouble, as all
he had to do was to open the door at
the top of the trap and take out what
ever was needed.
Some time ago Mr.. Beeman thought
his fish were not so abundant as they
should be, so he determined to watch
for the thief. At last he saw a flock
of crows stealing some of the fish out
of the trap. They would wait for a
shiny beauty to come to the top of
the trap, then seize it and fly off
with it, The farmer brought his gun
and shot several of the crows; one was
merely famed, as he was very hand
some fellow he fitted the ring to his
leg with a little chain attached and
fastened the chain to a post where
Master Crow could sit at his ease. He
fed him and called him Jack. Jack
grew very tame after little, and Mr.
Beeman grew very fond of him. He
fed him himself, and always babe him
good morning.
Jack" he would say, Say Good
morning"
Jack would cock up his head and
snap his bill over and over again; but
no sound came. When Mr.. Beeman
/ gave him his food he repeated
Thanks" several times, but the bird
made no sound.
This went on for a long time, and
Jack had never uttered word. Mr..
Beeman clipped Jacks wings so he
could not fly, and gave him his liberty.
He thought perhaps the bird would
be happier free. One morning as he
went out to find Jack he did not see
him as usual, and called Jack! Jack!"
All at once over his head he heard
a hoarse and plaintive cry Of Jack!
Jack! jack"
He was very much surprised and
could hardly believe it was Jack really
speaking; but it was. Jack was in
trouble He had flown into some
bushes, and was so caught that he
could not free himself Mr.. Beeman
went to the rescue. Jack, solemn as
ever, hung by one of his legs; in a
short time he would have been dead.
No doubt he was glad to be rescued
for as Mr.. Beeman took him out of the
briers, and smoothed his gloosy feath-
ers, he opened his mouth several times
and said Morning, morning; thanks
thanks; Jack jack"
People came from far and near to
hear Jack speak. He was never shy
but those three words were the only
ones he ever said. He began to be
very mischievous, and stole all the
keys he could find.
The farmer one day missed the key
of his tool chest. He got another
and that was taken. The neighborf
began to complain of losing little
things, and at last Jack was discovered
in the act of taking a door key. He
was watched and followed. Chatter,
ing and muttering his three words
Jack, Morning" and Thanks" ht
hoped over to a corner Of the garden
and tug away for some time. Their
he went to his perch and fell asleep
Mr.. Beeman went to investigate the
corner of the garden, and such az
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