266 Crows 



lay in one particular spot upon a small table by the 

 window, but they were not there. He searched every- 

 where without finding them, neither could the good 

 wife find them, and there was nothing in the world 

 that so rufiled the good man as to have his spec- 

 tacles mislaid. Each member of the family was cross- 

 examined in regard to the missing spectacles, but no 

 one could give the desired information. 



The farmer finally threw down his paper in dis- 

 gust, thinking that if he took a walk to the Spring 

 Lot, to see the young stock, he would perhaps feel 

 better. As he passed through the woodhouse he 

 caught sight of Jim flying in at the door with some- 

 thing in his beak. Contrary to his custom he stopped 

 to see what it was, and to his surprise he saw his 

 spectacles. Quickly he closed the door, and seizing 

 a broom, started for Jim. The bird flew- to the top 

 of his box, still holding the spectacles in his beak, 

 but had scarcely alighted, when, just escaping a well- 

 intended blow, he immediately took to his wings. 

 The only window was closed, but as the broom was 

 sweeping in all directions, Jim, in his effort to escape, 

 flew against one of the panes of glass with sufficient 

 force to break it, thus saving himself, but leaving the 

 spectacles hanging on the sash with one of the glasses 

 broken. 



