198 HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS. 
be outdone by a blossom, suddenly startled us with his 
wild, sweet song, only a short distance away, when he 
fairly excelled himself, filling the place with wild mel- 
ody. 
The people with whom I was staying have a tame 
crow with a history worth recording. About a year ago 
the boys got possession of the bird soon after it had left 
the nest. It was so cunning that they enjoyed playing 
tricks on it. These were harmless, but the crow re- 
sented the indignities, and cut their acquaintance, and 
betook itself to the boys’ father, who is noted for his 
kindliness to all creatures. His new master called his 
black pet Peter, a name which the recipient readily rec- 
ognized, and always answered to unless called when 
he was angry. Peter followed his master about the 
farm, to the woods, and to the neighbors. He some- 
times made excursions about the neighborhood alone, 
generally returning before dark. Last fall he got caught 
out in a big snow storm, and did not, as usual, return 
at night. As days went by and no news from Peter, 
the family concluded he had either been killed, or had 
gone off with other crows. 
The snow had lain on the ground all winter, and been 
exceedingly deep, but in March it went off suddenly 
with a heavy rain. Soon after the ground became bare, 
the master, who was at work in the orchard, saw, at a 
little distance, a poor, tired, bedraggled crow walking 
and hobbling along towards him. A second glance 
showed it to be Peter, the prodigal. Instantly he had 
the poor creature on his arm, caressing him as tenderly 
