Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-02-23

and "snip, snip would go their heads.
There was scarcely an hour in the day
when some one was not calling out.
"Go way, Grip, so way" for the
whole family kept watch over those
| pansies.
At times Grip would be very loving.
Alighting on my shoulder he would
cuddle down close to my face, uttering
soft little croaking notes. Then he
would slyly pull the pin from my col.
| lar, and begin snatching at the hair
| pins in my braids. At other times.
when / called him he would not come
to me, but would alight near me, and
look at me so impishly while plead.
ed, "Come here, Grip; conc, Grippy.
come here"
One day L was coaxing him thus as
he hoped along on the top board of
the fence. He put his head down and
seemed to be choking and swallowing.
After several such spasms he uttered
the words, $50 way, Grip. go way"
very distinctly. / could hardly believe
my ears. Grip, my crow, could say
three words: "Go way. Grip" For
long time he had chattered and made
cultural noises. He would scream and
laugh like young imp. But now he
could talk, and, aside from being sur
prised 1 was delighted. He soon
learned to say Go way, Grip" with
out effort, and not long after that I
heard him say, Come here, Grip;
come, Grippy, come here" in the same
coaXing tone 1 used to him.
Rainy days We're his delight. Then
he held high carnival on the woodpile,
where he would chatter and laugh,
coax and scold by turns: "Come here,
Grip, come here" in soft, coaxing
tone; then harshly, $50 way, Grip, go
way" 1t sounded as if two children
were quarreling.
Later he learned to say "All right"
"Hurry up" and almost any hour in
the day he could be heard, if not seen,
practicing his new accomplishments.
During that fall 1 taught the district
school, half a mile from home. 1t was
a pleasant walk in good weather. Grip
was on hand to see me safely on my
way each morning. He would hop or
fly along, or ride on my shoulder. until
he came to the bridge which spanned
the creek just half way to the school
house. Then he would fly up in tall
willow tree bending over the water.
Thus far would he CO. but no farther.
One morning, however, he alighted
OH the window of the school house,
tapping loudly with his beak upon the
glass to be let in. The children all
knew Grip. He was famed through
out the neighborhood for his powers Of
speech and his impish and cunning
pranks. Immediately the hands went
up to beg permission to let him in.
with promises to be good and to study
hard.
The unanimous request was granted,
and Grip flew to my desk and began
picking up pencils and pieces of chalk.
Then he went from one desk to anoth
er, looking for more pencils. No doubt
he thought he had struck Il rich field.
| must confess that lessons were for.
gotten, so intent were the children in
watching this strange bird, which
hoped from desk TO desk and peered
into their faces in such curious way.
Alas! he came TO an untimely death.
One night he failed to meet me at the
willow upon my return from school.
No one had seen him that afternoon.
found him in shed, crouched upon
an old barrel, looking very sick and
miserable, and with green stains upon
his bill. The can of Paris green was
found overturned in the barn, and that
told the story. The poor fellow had
been eating the poison. He refused
food, uttering plaintiyc little croaks as
1 strolltd him and said Poor Grip" l
left him for the night, hoping his crow
constitution was strong enough to re-
sist the deadly poison
In the morning l found him sitting
as / had left him, but no soft croak
greeted me- He was cold and stiff in
death. DO YOU wonder that my tears
fell freely. and that / felt no shame in
weeping for 4 dead crow?-St. Nicbo-
las.