THE RAVEN. 
THE RAVEN. 
SaBpe sinistra cava praedixit ab ilice cornix. ViRG. 
It is now about three and twenty years since the 
last raven which frequented this neighbourhood 
either lost its life for supposed offences against the 
game-laws, or found it expedient to retire to some 
distant part, where it could live unmolested, and 
rear its brood in safety. Not far from hence, in 
the middle of a wood, there was a large oak tree, 
the bole of which, by its thickness and its towering 
height, had set every idling boy at defiance, time 
out of mind. On a huge limb of this giant son of 
earth, a pair of ravens annually renewed their nest, 
and reared a brood of young. At last, in evil hour, 
a restless village cobbler got a scheme into his head 
to plunder the establishment ; and he forthwith en- 
gaged the blacksmith to make him some iron spikes, 
which were to be affixed to his feet, in order to 
facilitate his ascent into the tree. With this provi- 
r sion, one Sunday morning, of all other days in the 
week, the ragged rascal bent his unhallowed steps 
towards the tree which contained the raven's nest. 
By means of the spikes he was enabled to overcome 
the difficulties hitherto deemed insurmountable, by 
every passing vagabond, who had cast a longing 
eye upon the treasure which was lodged in the 
tree. He mounted aloft, and robbed the nest of its 
young. From that unlucky day, the ravens were 
never seen to alight again upon their once favourite 
[ tree. But they still lingered in the neighbourhood ; 
