LITTLE BLACK SOLOMON

New Zealand Tablet, 23 November 1911, Page 2389

LITTLE BLACK SOLOMON

Claire was sitting up in bed waiting for the doctor. She had been sick for a fortnight. But now was almost well again. Dr. Bell was down in the hall talking with mother, and in a minute they would both come upstairs to her. Sometimes the doctor brought her a little gift. Yesterday it was a nest of three pretty pill boxes. She wondered if he would have anything for her to-day. The door opened, and in came Dr. Bell, a puffedout paper held carefully in one hand. ' You never could guess what I brought you,' he said. Then he put .the paper on the bed and uncovered the wretchedest specimen of a little black crow that you ever saw. ' O-oo !' cried Claire. 'I found him by the side of.the road over on the mountain,' said the doctor. ' I knew he would die there, for he isn't old enough to fly, so I thought I'd bring him to you. If he lives he'll make you a fine pet, though he isn't very handsome at present.' 'Oh, I shall just love him—l know I shall!' Claire exclaimed delightedly. Master Crow cocked a bright eye up at her in a way to make them all laugh, and Dr. Bell said, ' Oh, I shouldn't wonder if he turned out to be a regular Solomon for wisdom!' 'l'll call him Solomon!' cried Claire. 'Wouldn't that be a good name?' And so Solomon it was. The bird grew fast, both wise and handsome; and, by the time Claire was quite well, her pet was able to fly. . At first there was talk of clipping its wings; but the little girl could not bear to have it done, so he was left to use his beautiful wings to fly away with if he chose. But Solomon did not choose. Occasionally he would be gone for hours, but he was sure to come back at dusk and rap on the window with his long bill. On being admitted, he would utter a joyful ' Caw! caw!' Once Claire looked out into the yard to see Solomon talking to a whole flock of crows, and she trembled lest he should be coaxed away; but her pet had no idea

of leaving his home, and after a while the strangers departed. Solomon was fond of anything bright, and the family had to keep their coins out of sight.. Occasionally they wanted extra milk, so they put a pail out on the steps, dropped the pennies in to pay for the milk, and put on the. cover. Once or twice , the money was missing, and then naughty Solomon was-caught , carefully taking off the pail cover and grabbing .the coins. All the neighbors knew Solomon, and he paid them frequent visits; but, whenever he was not wanted, all they had to do was to say ‘Go home! and he would fly at once. ’ Claire missed him one day and wondered what;had become of him. He, did not appear for dinner or supper. At bedtime he had not come, and she feared her pet had gone forever. The next night he was still away, but before she went to sleep she heard his familiar ‘Caw! caw!’ and she jumped up to open the window But such a Solomon! His feathers were rumpled and his tale was gone. Where he had been nobody has ever found out, but for days he seemed afraid to leave the house. Now he always returns by nightfall.