THE COUNTRY, BOY 89 



wings the way they are now. But because 

 after he is gone you will feel bad and mope 

 around for a few days, I thought I would tell 

 you now that when spring comes he will leave 

 you, notwithstanding the bond of friendshij), 

 so if you want him kept here (which I hope 

 you don't) you had better cut the feathers on 

 one wing." 



I didn't want to mutilate his feathers so I 

 left them on. A few weeks later coming from 

 one of those important trips downtown, they 

 told me at the house that my pet had gone. I 

 said, "I guess not." I didn't want to let on that 

 I was alarmed, but when they were not looking 

 I made some big strides for the barnyard, and 

 it was actually as still as death. I whistled but 

 no sound, save an echo, came in return. 



I noticed the leaves hung silent on our trees, 

 though the neighbors' trees were in action. I 

 went back of the barn and called, but the call 

 was wasted on a few old hens that "didn't 

 belong." I tried to ginger up some life into 

 the landscape by throwing a few old potatoes 

 at things, but the brakes were set in general 

 on everything and I went into the house and 

 found all the family sitting in front of an 



