The Washington herald., 1914-03-17
DAILY SHORT STORY.
THAT OLD BLACK CROW.
BY LAURENCE ALFRED CLAY.

tCoryright. IsliD
Late in the fall Miss Annie Bertran
had run down from the city to Hi
View to pass a week with her uncle anc
aunt, and there she caught her first sigh
OF that old black crow.
There was a cold wind blowing anC
snowfiakes were wandering through thu
air. The crow sat on a limb of n dead
apple tree and shivered and cawed. He
was a disconsolate looking bird.
Uncle Joe, what sort OF a bird
that" asked the girl.
We'll up in the city you would cal
him an oriole, but down here we call him
crow was the answer.
But 1 thought our birds flew south
as winter was coming on
There are fool-birds as well as fool
people, and the crow is one of them.
They'd rather hang around here and
freeze to death than fly a few hundred
miles. I'll bet over a score OF them
around here last winter keeled over with
the cold It's a wonder that that old
fellow pulled through"
But didn't you let him live in one of
your three barns?"
Nav"
And didn't you feed him?"
Uncle John and Aunt Mary giggled at
the idea, and the aunt said:
Its only a crow, you see.
'Supposing IL is only crow. Isn't he
to be pitied when he's cold and hungry?
He's got too old and weak to fly away.
Uncle Joe, l never knew before that you
had a mean streak about you"
Uncle and aunt laughed again, and
Uncle Joe drawled: IF you were to
come down here and set up a hos
pital for old crows you'd have your
hands full of patients, but you wouldn't
get any thanks from the farmers"
Cav! Cav. Caw!" cried the old crow.
do you know what he wants.
the girl.
'Of course do. He wants fried oys-
ters sweetbreads, and champagne, but
I'll be darned il he gets any at this
house!"
''Uncle Joe. shall feed that crow all
he can stuff!'
Good"
q shall fix shelter for him."
Good again.
And if he is not fed and cared for
after am gone 1 shall never come down
here again!"
"oh. guess well feed him right
enough until that feller shoots him."
what feller?'
Dunno his name, but he's stopping
down to Bently's. Cousin. ] guess. He's
shot at the bird about a dozen times
this last week, but hasn't teched a
feather. He'll probably keep it up till
he finally gets him
He probably won't do any such
was the indignant answer. Let
me catch him shooting at the crow and
III talk to him in a way he won't soon
forget! l go. sir, to do an act of
mercy
And Miss Annie headed for the pantry
and broke up enough bread to satisfy
the appetite OF a horse and carried it
out. The crow few down to her feet
and stuffed and gorged himself as he
never had in his crow life before. When
he could eat no more, the girl went
ON tour Of investigation. Under the
wagon shed she found en- Ole box, and
hunting up hammer and nails she nailed
the box about five feet from the ground
and stuffed il with hay.
It's for the crow. eh?" queried Uncle
Joe. as ne came out
He won't be fool enough to 20 into
that box at night A weasel would have
him I'm no time. If you feed him well
he'll get along all right on a limb"
That old crow had struck a soft snap
and he knew II. For three days he did
not 20 100 feet from the house, and as a
reward for the girls care he tried to
throw a few soft notes into has raucous