Better Than Men

k, middle-aged bird, commonly known in England as a rook

ularly so in the left wing. He was so badly disabled that he had to forego the pleasure of flying through the air, an

4

ed young rook to the window of this good man. But possibly it was a real inspiration on the part of the young bird. Toby was wet, weary, wounded, and hungry, and as he looked in upon the cheerful wood fire and the kindly face of the master of the house, his longing expression was met with a raising of the window and an invitation to walk in t

is friend. After a few weeks, however, he realized the value of his new position, and consented to the establishment of intim

most of that time he would walk by his master's side, cawing and looking up into his face as if 142 asking for recognition. When the wing got well, and his ability t

ne intimate friend, and to him his loyalty was intense. He would tolerate the presence of other members o

one end, which rests upon the floor, Toby commences his ascent with a great flapping of wings and uproarious 143 cawing. When he arrives at the upper end of the pole, some eight or nine feet from t

morning in November, Toby was found looking longingly into the room where he had first seen his good master. The window was opened, he walked in and mounted his pole, and after him came a companion, a meek, modest, and timid young rook, more c

his favorite resting places, where he enjoys his after breakfast contemplations and his afternoon siestas, is among the branches of a fine old Englis

at as ever. They usually walk directly up to it, and betray great surprise when they find two other rooks advancing to meet them. For a while they remain silent and motionless, looking at the strangers, and waiting, apparently, for some sign

ring flocks of vagrant rooks, but are never tempted to new adventures. The old fellow is very wise. Like a fat old office-holder, he knows enough to apprecia

hman upon the tower, ever on the outlook to give notice of the approach of visitors to his castle, and no one can intrude upon the premises under his self-appointed watchmanship without exciting vigorous caws, which are enthusiastically

ey." This quotation gives but a faint intimation of the exceptionally friendly relations existing between these devoted friends. Blessed are the birds that can inspire such affect

often repeated theory, viz: that the humblest creatures are worthy of our tender consideration, and, wh