Chapter V

One day, [Grandma] sat down to knit on Jack's [stocking], and found one [needle] was gone. "Oh dear, that's too bad!" said she. "All the stitches dropped!" Pepper giggled, "Too bad, too bad!"

Grandma looked into her [basket], and under the [table]--and when she got up [two needles] were gone. "Dear, dear!" said she. "Where do they go?" [Pepper] giggled louder, and called, "Dear, dear! Too bad!"

Grandma looked behind her [chair], and under the [rug]--and when she came back [three needles] were gone. "Dearie me!" she cried, and held up both [hands]. Pepper giggled and giggled, and shrieked, "Dearie me! Jimmy Crow!" "Why, yes," cried Grandma, "[Jimmy Crow] is the thief, of course. Now where has he hid them?"

Just then he flew down and tried to pull out the last [needle]. Grandma saw him, and called Jack. [Jack] looked in the [coal scuttle], he crawled under the [couch], he climbed on a [chair] and reached into the [vases] on the [mantel]. Jimmy Crow hopped about him and chuckled softly, "Caw, caw!"

Then [Pepper] giggled and cried out, "Jimmy-Jimmy wants a [cracker]!" "Oh, yes," said Jack, "let's give Jimmy a [cracker], and see where he takes it." Jimmy carried the cookie to the top of the [cupboard]. "That's the place. I'll get the [ladder]," Jack laughed. When he had climbed to the top, he shouted, "Grandma! Here are the [needles]--and all the other things we have lost--your [pouch], and the [spoon], and my [mitten]--and--lots of things!" As he came down with both hands full, Jimmy fluttered about his [head], and Pepper giggled and shrieked. [Edith Francis Foster]

[APRIL FOOL!]

JIMMY CROW.