The Rescued Raven
On a hot day, two boys named Billy and Martin were out in the fields picking strawberries. Martin was tired, so he sat down to rest beneath a bush. As he did so, something caught his eye.
“Billy,” he called. “What’s that I can see in the bush?”
Billy looked up. “Why, it’s a bird,” he said, running over to where a poor little raven hung, half dead, from one of the branches.
Billy picked up the raven. It had a broken wing and a broken leg, giving a sad little squawk as Billy lifted it from the bush.
“What a scruffy little thing,” said Martin. “It doesn’t look much use at all, but you never know. Perhaps if we keep it in a cage, it will get better and then we can sell it at the market or something.”
“We’ll do no such thing,” said Billy. “Birds don’t like to be kept in a cage when they have been used to flying around the fields and hedges. I will keep it and try to heal its wing and leg. Then, if it gets better, I will let it fly away.”
Ownership Dispute
“Well, just as you like,” said Martin. “But since I saw it first, it is my raven. If you want it, you must give me ten marbles.”
Billy thought this was quite a lot to ask, but in the end, he gave his friend the ten marbles and took the raven home.
Caring for the Raven
In a short time, its wing and leg healed so well that it could hop about and flutter around the house. Soon, it could fly quite strongly, but it did not fly away. Instead, it stayed in the house and made friends with Gribble, the cat, and Laddie, the dog.
The little raven was so clever that it soon learned to help the dog watch over the cows in the pastures, giving them sharp little pecks to guide them in the right direction when they were being troublesome.
Mushroom Adventures
Each day, Billy’s mother picked fresh mushrooms from the fields and took them to the market to sell. The little raven quickly learned to find the biggest, choicest mushrooms, and each morning it would fly in front of Billy’s mother, showing her where to find them. Billy’s mother sold all her mushrooms soon after she reached the market because they were so delicious.
By this time, the raven had grown big and strong. Its feathers were a glossy black, and its round black eyes sparkled with mischief.
A Tough Decision
<p“It is spring, and soon our little raven will want to fly away,” said Billy’s mother. “We must clip his wings so that he will stay with us. After all, if he went away, it would be harder to find the mushrooms and more difficult to herd the cattle. He is such a clever little bird.” <p“No,” said Billy. “He is used to flying around freely. It would spoil him to clip his wings, and he would be sad if he could not swoop over the fields and up into the trees. We will leave him free, and he can fly away if he wants to.”
The Raven’s Return
The raven was left to fly, like a shiny black arrow, across the meadows, up towards the sun and far away towards the distant blue hills.
One day, just as Billy’s mother had said, the raven did not return. They did not see him for several weeks, but then, one day at supper time, he was back again, tapping at the window to be let in.
Billy opened the window, and to his surprise, in flew two ravens. The little raven had found a wife and brought her back to visit Billy’s home.
They did not see the two ravens again for several weeks, but one day, they returned, this time with three baby ravens—small, fat, glossy birds that resembled their father. Billy was delighted, and the dog barked his welcome while the cat purred with pleasure at the sight of them. The ravens hopped around the room, chattering and chirping in their high, shrill voices.
Unexpected Danger
Then they all flew away again, and no one saw the ravens for many weeks.
One bright October morning, Billy went fishing in the nearby river. He sat on the bank, waiting for a fish for dinner when behind him he heard a terrible bellow.
He turned around and saw an enormous bull galloping toward him, having broken out of the field next to his home where it was kept. Billy knew all about the bull, as there were big notices on the gate warning about the DANGER and WARNING of the fierce bull. The gate was always kept chained and padlocked.
Billy took to his heels and ran but did not know which direction to take. He soon became hot, tired, and very confused. He could hear the horrid bull pounding along behind him, gaining ground all the time.
The Bold Rescue
Just as Billy felt his legs or breath would give out, a shining black bird fell like a stone from the sky. It landed on the bull’s head and gave it such a sharp peck on its tender nose that the bull turned and ran for dear life, roaring and bellowing as it fled across the field, away from Billy.