(Adapted)
A pair of crows had their nest in a certain tree. It was a fine tree,
and suited them well, but they had a bad neighbor, a black snake, who
often stole and ate their young ones.
“Husband,” said Mrs. Crow, “we must leave this pleasant home of ours;
we shall never be able to rear our children while that bad snake is
there.”
“My dear,” replied Mr. Crow, “think no more about him. I have had
enough of Black Snake, and I am going to get rid of him.”
“What can you do against a huge snake like that?” asked Mrs. Crow.
“Listen!” said Mr. Crow. “As you know, the Prince comes every day to
bathe in the fountain under our tree. He has a fine gold chain, and he
takes it off before he goes into the water, and lays it on a stone.
To-morrow, when he does this, do you take the chain in your beak (for I
shall be away getting food for the babies), and drop it into the hollow
of the tree, taking care to give some good loud ‘Caws’ while you do so.
Then wait and see what happens!”
Sure enough, next morning the young Prince came as usual to bathe in
the clear fountain. He took off his gold chain and laid it on a stone,
just as Mr. Crow said he would; then he began to take off his robes.
Just then down flew Mrs. Crow, took the chain in her yellow bill, and
flew up into the branches with it. “Oh! my chain! my chain!” cried the
Prince. “That crow has flown away with it!”
“Have peace, your Highness!” replied his servant. “The bird has not
flown far; she has this instant dropped the chain into a hole in the
tree, and I will climb up and get it.”
Up climbed the servant, and looked down into the hole.
“Do you see my chain?” cried the Prince.
“Yes,” said the servant, “I see it, shining in the hole, but I see
something else that is not so pretty; the head of a great ugly black
snake. If your Highness will throw me up a stone, I will kill the
creature, for it is a poisonous snake.”
[Illustration]
So the Prince threw up a stone, and the servant caught it, and killed
the snake with it. Then he reached down into the hole, pulled out the
gold chain, and took it back to his master, who thanked him kindly.
“Ah!” said Mrs. Crow. “He is glad to get back his fine jewel; but I am
far happier, for I have my babies safe and sound. See what it is to
have a clever husband! I must be sure to have everything he likes best
for supper to-night.”
So she did! I do not know what crows like best for supper, so I cannot
tell you; but they had a wonderful feast, and the little ones picked
the bones, and there was no happier family in all the forest than the
Crow Family.
[Illustration:
“TWICE ONE IS TWO,
WE MAKE OUR BOW TO YOU.”
]