The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-08
BURGESS BED-
 TIME STORIES
By TmORNToN VI. BURGEss

Blncl<y, the Crow, Makes a Call Judge no one by his style of dress, Your ignorance you thus confess. -Blncky the Crow.
 "Caw. cav. cav. caw." There was no need of looking to see who that was. Peter Rabbit knew without looking. Mrs. ouaclS knew without looking. Just the same. both looked up. Just alighting in the top of a tall tree was Blacky the Crow. Cav. cav. cav, caw" he repeated. look ing down at Peter and Mrs. Quack and MT. Quack and the six young ouaoiSs. T hope I am not inter- rupting any secret gossip"
 "Not at all.' Peter hastened to say. Mrs. Quack was just telling me of the troubles and dangers in bringing up young family in the Far North How did you know the Quaoks had arrived?"
 Blacky chuckled hoarsely. "I didn't" said he. "I simply thought there might be something going on I didn't know about over here, so I came over here to find out MT. Quack. you and Mrs. Quack are look e ing very fine. And those handsome young Quacks. you don't mean to tell me that they are your childreni"
 Mrs. ouack nodded proudly. "They are" said she.
 "You don't say sol" exclaimed Blacky. as if he were very much sur- prised when all the time he wasn't surprised at all. They are a credit to their parents. Yes, Indeed, they are a credit to their parents. Never have seen finer young Ducks in all my life. How glad the hunters with terrible guns will be to see themi"
 Mrs. Quack shivered at that and Blacky saw 1t. He chuckled softly. You know he dearly loves to make others uncomfortable. T saw three hunters over on the edge of the Big River early this very morning." said he.
 Mrs. Quack looked more anxious than ever. Blacky's sharp eyes noted this. That Is why I came over here," he added kindly. "I wanted to give you warning"
 But you didn't know the Quacks were here!" spoke up Peter.
 True enough, Peter. True enough" replied Biacky, his eyes twinkllng. But f~thought they might be. 1 had | HCaTQ d IuinOI lHal those WnO kO south are travelling earlier than usual this fall. so I knew 1 might find Mir. and Mrs. Quack over here any time now. It is true, Mrs. Quack, that we are going to have a long, hard, cold winter2"
 That is what they say up in tho Far North" replied Mrs. Quack. And it is true that Jack Frost has started down earlier than usual. That is how 1t happens we are here now. But about those hunters over by the Big River do you suppose they will come over here?" There was an anxious note in Mrs. Quack's voice.
 "No," replied Blacky promptly, Farmer Browns boy won't let them I know. I've been watching him and he has been watching those hunters As long as you stay here you will be safe. What a great world this would be if all those two-legged creatures : were like Farmer Browns boy"
 "Wouldn't itl' cried Peter. Then he added. T wish they were"
 You don't wish 1t half as much as l do," declared Mrs. Quack.
 "Yet I can remember when he used to hunt with a terrible gun and was as bad as the worst of them," said Blacky.
 I What changed him?" asked Mrs Quack. looking interested.
 Just getting really acquainted with some of the little people of tho Green Forest and tho Green Mead ows." replied Blacky. "Iie found them ready to meet him more thar halfway in friendship, and that some of them really are his best friends
 And now he Is their best friend spoke up Peter
 Blacky nodded. "Right, Pcter,' said he. That is why the Quack, are safe here and will be as long as they stay here"
 Copyright, 1921, by T. W. Burgess
 The next story: "Blacky Does 6 Little Looking About"