146 THE ROMANCE OF EVERIFARM 



sinking behind the grove of trees in the west, and 

 with its crimson glow was illuminating the fleecy 

 clouds overhead, great flocks of crows could be seen 

 lazily and quietly winging their way from every di- 

 rection — all with one idea, all going to the big party. 

 And what a time they had when they arrived! 

 Such a noise ! Every one of the oldtimers was tickled 

 to death to see each other and then there was the 

 noise of introducing their children to their friends' 

 children. They stayed at the party all night and 

 had such a good time that it was repeated the next 

 night and the next, until it became a habit, so that 

 the grove became known to everyone as a great crow 

 roost. Here the crows sat in the trees night after 

 night and had party after party which resulted in 

 making new acquaintances, and here the young fel- 

 lows selected their brides for the coming year. How- 

 ever, the people on the big farm are as yet unde- 

 cided as to whether Jim Crow is a benefactor or a 

 pest. His good qualities are nearly overbalanced 

 by his criminal acts, but everyone hopes that some 

 day he will follow the advice of Killer the hawk 

 and "become a gentleman." 



