Chapter I: Jimmy Crow belongs to Jack

Jack is a little [boy]. Jimmy is a big [crow]. Jack wears a white [suit]. Jimmy wears black [feathers]. Jack says "Good Morning," and "Yes, sir," and "Thank you." Jimmy can say only "Caw, caw." Jack thinks Jimmy is a funnier pet than a [cat] or a [dog].

One day, last summer, Jack was picking low [berries] in the pasture, when he saw a young [crow] hopping in the bushes. The little crow was lame in one [leg]. He had fallen from the [nest]. He was too young to fly far, so [Jack] caught him. He carried him home in his berry-[basket]. Then Jack took a [hammer] and [nails] and [wood] and built a [cage]. He named his new pet "Jimmy Crow."

Jack took good care of Jimmy Crow. He caught [crickets] for him to eat, and gave him fresh water in a tin [cup]. Jimmy's lame leg soon got well. His [wings] grew big, and he could fly. When Jack called, Jimmy would fly to him and perch on his [hand] or [head].

Jimmy Crow liked mischief. He liked to hide things and see people hunt for them. Once when Jack was getting ready for school, he could not find his [top]. He hunted till Mama said he must put on his rubber [boots] and be off. One of those boots would not go on. There was something in the toe. [Jack] held it up and shook it, and out fell--the top! [Jimmy Crow] flapped his [wings] and cried "Caw, caw!" That was his way of laughing. Jack laughed too, as he took his [books] and [hat] and hurried off. [Edith Francis Foster]

[THE CHRISTMAS CANDLES]

JIMMY CROW.