The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-03-25
Daily Short Story
THAT OLD BLACK CROW,
BY LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY

BY LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY
Late IN the fau Miss Annie Bert
aaIn mad run down from the city to
hill View 10 pass q week with her
uncle and aunt. and there she caught
her first sight OF that old black crow
Uncle Joe. what sort OF a bird is
that asked the girl
We'll. up in the city you would call
him an oriole. but down here we call
him crow was the answer.
But thought our birds few 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 20 death than fly a few hun.
dred miles. III bet over a score OF
them around here last winter keeled
over with the COLI. It's wonder
that that old fellow pulled through"
But didn't you let him live in one
OF your three barns'"
And didn't you feed him.
Uncle John and Aunt Mary giggled
al the idea. and the aunt said.
Its only a crow. you see"
Cav! Cav, Cawl" cried the old
DO you know what he wants -
asked the girl.
''Of course I do. He wants fried
oysters. sweet cakes and champagne.
put III be darned IL he gets any at
Uncle Joe. ] shall feed that crow
all he can stun"
Il shall fix n shelter for HIM"
And IL he Is not fed and cared for
after ! am gone. I shall never come
down here again.
"oh. I guess wen feed him right
enough until that Teller shoots him"
lnno his name. but he's stopping
down in BentEs. Cousin. I guess.
He's shot az the bird about a dozen
times this last week. but hasn't teched
feather He'll probably keep II up
Till he finally gets him"
He probably won't do any such
thing" was the indignant answer.
And Miss Annie headed for the pan.
try and broke mp enough bread 10 sat.
isfy the appetite OF a horse and car.
ried II out. The crow few down TO
her feet and stuffed and gorged him
self as he never had in his crow life
before
That old crow had struck a soft
snap and he knew Il. For three DAYS
he did not go 100 feet from the house
On the fourth day. as Miss Annie
set of across the fields for walk. he
accompanied her, sometimes flying
and sometimes walking. but keeping
up his glad notes all the time He
was at length forgotten for few min.
utes and then the report OF a gun near
az hand followed by the scream OF a
bIrd. startled the girl.
ITS the fellow with the gun. and
he has shot my crowi"
twenty rods away, behind n fringe
or bushes, she came upon Young
man standing over the dead crow with
gun in his hands.
oh. you brute'" she shotued as
she ran to the crow
"What-what is it," stammered the
murderer
"Oh, the meanness OF it,"
But ! only shot a crow"
Just then the old bird began TO
kick. He had changed his mind about
being a dead crow In another min
ute he was tapping his wings and try
ing TO cav. The bullet had grazed
his head and stunned him.
why, he isn't dead" said the
young man as he advanced
Miss Annie put the bird down and
watched II hop about. and then took
look at the hunter. Uncle Joe had
said that the man after the old crow
was a Teller. Somehow she had the
impression that IL was q middle-aged
man. Here before her was a young
that he was from the city.
No. he isn't dead she responded.
but that IL no fault of yours. Uncle
Joe told me you had been trying TO
Kill him for week past"
But ] didn't know IL was a tame
crow he protested.
But what did you want to kill any
sort of crow for?
"Why-why-"
Because when a man from town
gets out into the country he seems
possessed OF desire 20 destroy. He
breaks down and uproots. He Grip
pies and kills! He wants the life OF
the birds that sing TO him-of the
quails that greet him-of the hares
that frisk about in their play. When
you are in town do you kick every
dog tffet passes you?"
But Crows"
why thirst TO kill a crow"
The young man was much embar-
raised. He had used up all his ex-
cuses.
Your excuses don't go. sir" said
the cir: as she picked up the crow
and walked off
Royal Chadwick was known 10 his
friends as singular young man. He
often did things contrary ito human
nature and 10 logic He did so in this
case. He took few hours 10
straighten out the kinks and then
boldly appeared at Uncle Joe's.
1T H. you, ! came TO see" he an
nounced as Miss Annie opened the
door for him.
The crow is up in the apple tree"
was the reply.
And hope 10 see him later. Will
you permit me n few words7"
He was seated I'm the parior. and
his first words were.
/ called IN nuW that I yurr
Of myself"
The girl inclined her head as ~ 20
say he ought 10 DO
You are entirely right IN vour