330 CORN AND BEANS. ETC. 



proved that there is honor among thieves, for 

 the robbers stood around their staggering fellow, 

 grave and remonstrative, and seemingly much 

 scandalized. Then from being stupidly drunk, 

 the crow became pugnaciously drunk, and 

 wanted to fight them all around for nothing, a 

 la " Sixth Ward." From this he passed on to 

 the maudlin and sentimental stage, and offered 

 some uncouth gallantries to the oldest and most 

 sedate crow of the party. 



This was past endurance. There was a brief 

 clamorous council, and with an expression of 

 unmingled disgust resting on their usually 

 solemn and sanctimonious faces, they took wing 

 and were seen no more. 



" Consider the ravens," O ye children of 

 men ! It only remains to be said that the in- 

 ebriated crow thus socially "cut' and ostra- 

 cized, not having a gutter to lie in, like lordly 

 man, did the next best thing possible, and turn- 



