"ThorntonWBurgess-BlackyTheCrow" - читать интересную книгу автора (Burgess Thornton W)

was nothing to fear from him. But Blacky learned ever so long ago
that there is nothing like making sure that there is no danger. So,
instead of flying straight to that old nest, he first flew over the
tree so that he could look down into it.

Right away he saw something that made him gasp and blink his
eyes. It was quite large and white, and it looked -- it looked
very much indeed like an egg! Do you wonder that Blacky gasped and
blinked? Here was snow on the ground, and Rough Brother North Wind
and Jack Frost had given no hint that they were even thinking of
going back to the Far North. The idea of any one laying an egg at
this time of year! Blacky flew over to a tall pine-tree to think it
over.

"Must be it was a little lump of snow," thought he. "Yet if ever I
saw an egg, that looked like one. Jumping grasshoppers, how good an
egg would taste right now!" You know Blacky has a weakness for
eggs. The more he thought about it, the hungrier he grew. Several
times he almost made up his mind to fly straight over there and make
sure, but he didn't quite dare. If it were an egg, it must belong to
somebody, and perhaps it would be best to find out who. Suddenly
Blacky shook himself. "I must be dreaming," said he. "There
couldn't, there just couldn't be an egg at this time of year, or in
that old tumble-down nest! I'll just fly away and forget it."

So he flew away, but he couldn't forget it. He kept thinking of it
all day, and when he went to sleep that night he made up his mind to
have another look at that old nest.



CHAPTER II: Blacky Makes Sure

"As true as ever I've cawed a caw
That was a new-laid egg I saw."

"What are you talking about?" demanded Sammy Jay, coming up just in
time to hear the last part of what Blacky the Crow was mumbling to
himself.

"Oh nothing, Cousin, nothing at all," replied Blacky. "I was just
talking foolishness to myself." Sammy looked at him sharply. "You
aren't feeling sick, are you, Cousin Blacky?" he asked. "Must be
something the matter with you when you begin talking about new-laid
eggs, when everything's covered with snow and ice. Foolishness is
no name for it. Whoever heard of such a thing as a new-laid egg this
time of year"

"Nobody, I guess, " replied Blacky. "I told you I was just talking
foolishness. You see, I'm so hungry that I just got to thinking what