My Rook.

Otago Witness, Issue 2883, 23 June 1909, Page 84

My Rook.

(By Clara Beusted.)

A black winter's morning, all the earth bound in frost that had lasted a week, and now a piercing wind carrying small, sharp liaiL

Standing by a blazing fire looking idly across the roam out of the French window I saw something- blown along the path. To me then, it seemed like a small bundle of dragg-led* black alpaca ; but I had a suspicion that it was some feathered creature, and I was soon out by the glass doors ana running a'on<r to the end of the path. There, entangled in the hedge, was the object I had seen. As I bent down I saw there was a large beak and a feeble movement of long- feathers. Soon it was in my hand, and I was back again in the warm room. I found I was the posssssor of a rook ; one wing between his legs, and both wings heavy .with ice, icicles hanging from his breastfeathers, his feet swollen, the toes without nails, and they had been bleeding. I gently moved the wing from between the leg 3, and found it was broken

The bird lay quietly on his back in my hard ; and after examining his starved body my eyes encountered his — wide open, deep set, an 4 shrewd. He had watched all my movements, and now we gazed at each oth-pr.

" Poor dear chap ! " I eaid ; and, talking to him softly, I carried him to the kitchen for food.

His .icicles were melting, and water was dripping from mv hand. As luck would have it our cook was cutting up meat for beef-tea. He paw what she was engaged upon before I did, and made a sudden movement, his eyes fixed on the meat. I gave him several pieces, he taking them from mv hand and swallowing eagerly. The ntrange part was that he seamed perfectly tame.

In the morning, after resting passively" in my room all night, he took food - from my hand and water from a spoon that I just put in at the side of his beak: but, finding he was rhirsty, he opened the beak for me to pom it in.

Comirs to my room about noon I found him huddled up on the edge of the basket ard makine a feeble attempt at preening. The naxt day he sat in the palm of my hand and ran life beak between each finger in a caress'ng manner, and I have no doubt whatever he meant it for a caress. I stroked him and called him Jim : and late>on, when we were real friends, he used to make a noise to attract my attention — a sound without opening hi© beak, a sort of croak, but pleasanter, and I got to know it w«IL

Soms months passed, and he lived In a blackbird's cage. Be could sit on a perch, but never very firmly. He was happiest in my room on a table by the window ; ftnd one day when I was downstairs I heard a curious guttural sort of chortle, something like a starlings note; and, stealing to the door of my room, I looked in, and there was Jim on his perch with neck outstretched and his still dilapidated figure in joyous attitude. T watched him, and felt that my bird

was happy. Then, drawing near, I put my hand in the cage. He was on it at once, caressingly jputting- his beak between the fingers.

Now comes the time when Jim distinguished himself, and claimed the gratitude of the elder membere of the house, who had always slighted him, and tainted me with his ugliness. Yes, Jim saved the silver and' put the thief to flight.

One nig.ht I placed him on a table that stood on the landing near my open door. I was roused from -sleep by Jini calling me with his peculiar sound, not opening his beak — the sound I knew so well. Ifc was not loud, but as I did not fully rouse myself it became more emphatic, one notefollowing quickly on another. At last, becoming quite awake, I sat up iniaed and called out, " Jim ! " Then in the lower part of the house there was a confused sound, a rushing of wind ; finally a door banged, and all was still. I heard cook get tip and strike a light, but she evidently returned to her' bed. Jim was silent. I slid down in my bed again, and went to sleep.

I was awakened in the early morning by cook rushing into my room very excitedly, crying out that the house had been, broken, into; the plat© that should be in\the dining room was lying on the kitchen floor half rolled! up in a towel, food was gone out of the larder, and otftier things were on the scullery floor.

So my rook had heard the stealthy creeping about that we had not, he had roused me, and my calling *' Jim !" had frightened th& burglar. He acted as sentinel to> us, as he had done for many yeaie, I should fancy, to his flock of comrades.