In his babyhood he was, in the language of the ancient chroniclers, grievously hurt and wounded full sore, and particularly so in the left wing. He was so badly disabled that he had to forego the pleasure of flying through the air, and was obliged to content himself as best he could with trudging4 about on the rough surface of our common mother earth.
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In his sad plight5, with the maimed wing dragging painfully along, he chanced to pass the window of a sanctum belonging to and occupied by a charming old English gentleman, a perfect example of the old school, learned, benevolent7, and very fond of animals and feathered pets. No one can tell what chance it was that brought the unhappy and wounded young rook to the window of this good man. But possibly it was a real inspiration on the part of the young bird. Toby was wet, weary, wounded, and hungry, and as he looked in upon the cheerful wood fire and the kindly8 face of the master of the house, his longing6 expression was met with a raising of the window and an invitation to walk in to a breakfast of corn and meal that had been hastily prepared for him. He gazed and thought, and thought and gazed, upon the joys within and still 141 he doubted; but, finally, appetite and curiosity got the better of his discretion9, and, as he walked cautiously in, the window was closed behind him. So the wounded waif entered upon a new life.
At first he was a little shy and cautious, and it took considerable time for him to convince himself that his protector was his friend. After a few weeks, however, he realized the value of his new position, and consented to the establishment of intimate relations. In fact, Toby became so attached to his master, and so affectionate, that he was not happy out of his presence.
During the first month of his captivity10, his wounded wing was bound close to his body for the purpose of giving the fractured bone an opportunity to unite, and during most of that time he would walk by his master’s side, cawing and looking up into his face as if 142 asking for recognition. When the wing got well, and his ability to fly was re-established, he would anticipate the direction of the promenades11 by flying in advance from shrub12 to bush, alighting and awaiting the arrival of his master.
The most singular part of Toby’s domestication13 was his exclusive loyalty14 to a single person. He had but one intimate friend, and to him his loyalty was intense. He would tolerate the presence of other members of the household, but when strangers appeared he was decidedly offish, and scolded until they disappeared.
Three times a day Toby is decidedly funny, and goes through a comical performance. In his master’s sanctum there is a contrivance which, on a small scale, resembles the old New England well-pole. At one end, which rests upon the floor, Toby commences his ascent15 with a great flapping of wings and uproarious 143 cawing. When he arrives at the upper end of the pole, some eight or nine feet from the floor, it falls and lands him upon a platform, beside a plate containing his food. This climbing up the pole precedes each meal, and takes place punctually at the same hour and minute of each day.
In the spring of 1890 Toby was tempted16 from his loyalty, and flew off with a marauding flock of his kind. He remained away all summer. He was missed but not mourned, for his master felt certain he would return; and, sure enough, one bleak17, cold morning in November, Toby was found looking longingly18 into the room where he had first seen his good master. The window was opened, he walked in and mounted his pole, and after him came a companion, a meek19, modest, and timid young rook, more confiding20 than Toby, and differing from him in many other respects. 144 He, too, was duly adopted, and was christened Jocko. He was easily domesticated21, and soon became a part of the entourage of one of the finest old Bedfordshire manorial22 homes.
With age Toby has taken on quite an amount of dignity. He is neither so noisy nor so companionable as formerly23, but is more staid and useful. One of his favorite resting places, where he enjoys his after breakfast contemplations and his afternoon siestas24, is among the branches of a fine old English oak, whose protecting shades, in the far-off past, were the scene of the stolen love-meetings of Amy Wentworth and the profligate25 Duke of Monmouth.
Neither of these knowing birds has been able to understand the mystery of a looking-glass. They spend many hours of patient investigation26 before a mirror in their master’s room, but all to no purpose, for the puzzle seems to remain 145 as great as ever. They usually walk directly up to it, and betray great surprise when they find two other rooks advancing to meet them. For a while they remain silent and motionless, looking at the strangers, and waiting, apparently27, for some sign of recognition. Then they go through a considerable flapping of wings and indulge in numerous caws, but after long waiting for an audible response they give up the useless effort, only to return next day as eager as ever to solve the mystery.
The older bird and his admiring junior are perfectly28 contented29 with their home, and never leave it. They often look out from their perches30 upon various wandering flocks of vagrant31 rooks, but are never tempted to new adventures. The old fellow is very wise. Like a fat old office-holder, he knows enough to appreciate a sinecure32 in which the emoluments33 146 are liberal and the service nominal34. His devoted35 follower36 never falters37 in his dutiful imitation of his benefactor38.
Toby proves by his actions that he appreciates the advantages of the situation, and in his simple way makes some return for the pleasures he enjoys. During a considerable portion of the pleasant days of the year he is in reality the watchman upon the tower, ever on the outlook to give notice of the approach of visitors to his castle, and no one can intrude39 upon the premises40 under his self-appointed watchmanship without exciting vigorous caws, which are enthusiastically reinforced by those of his faithful subordinate. Aside from his affectionate devotion to his master, displayed as often as occasion permits, this duty of “chief watchman of the castle” is Toby’s most substantial return for favors received!
In a letter of last May, the master 147 wrote: “My two crows are sitting on chairs close to me, and cawing to me that it is time for me to let them out of the window, so I must obey.” This quotation41 gives but a faint intimation of the exceptionally friendly relations existing between these devoted friends. Blessed are the birds that can inspire such affection in the heart of a noble old man, and doubly blessed is he who is the object of such loving appreciation42. Long may they all live to enjoy the fulness of their mutual43 attachments44!
This brief sketch45 is not intended for an amusing story. It is only a narration46 of facts in support of an often repeated theory, viz: that the humblest creatures are worthy47 of our tender consideration, and, when properly treated, will make pleasing returns for the affection we may bestow48 upon them.
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1
truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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trudging
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的现在分词形式） | |
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plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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6
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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7
benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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8
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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9
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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10
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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11
promenades
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| n.人行道( promenade的名词复数 )；散步场所；闲逛v.兜风( promenade的第三人称单数 ) | |
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12
shrub
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| n.灌木，灌木丛 | |
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13
domestication
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| n.驯养，驯化 | |
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14
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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15
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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16
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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17
bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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18
longingly
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| adv. 渴望地 热望地 | |
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19
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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20
confiding
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| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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21
domesticated
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| adj.喜欢家庭生活的；（指动物）被驯养了的v.驯化( domesticate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
manorial
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| adj.庄园的 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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24
siestas
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| n.（气候炎热国家的）午睡，午休( siesta的名词复数 ) | |
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25
profligate
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| adj.行为不检的；n.放荡的人，浪子，肆意挥霍者 | |
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26
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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27
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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28
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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29
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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30
perches
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| 栖息处( perch的名词复数 )； 栖枝； 高处； 鲈鱼 | |
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31
vagrant
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| n.流浪者，游民；adj.流浪的，漂泊不定的 | |
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32
sinecure
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| n.闲差事，挂名职务 | |
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33
emoluments
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| n.报酬，薪水( emolument的名词复数 ) | |
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34
nominal
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| adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的 | |
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35
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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36
follower
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| n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒 | |
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37
falters
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的第三人称单数 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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38
benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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39
intrude
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| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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40
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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41
quotation
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| n.引文，引语，语录；报价，牌价，行情 | |
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42
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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43
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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44
attachments
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| n.（用电子邮件发送的）附件( attachment的名词复数 )；附着；连接；附属物 | |
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45
sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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46
narration
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| n.讲述，叙述；故事；记叙体 | |
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47
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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48
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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