And that was an honor that old Mr. Crow
had had for years.
For two whole days he sulked at home. He wouldn't even go to his door
when anybody knocked. But on Monday evening Mr. Crow was the first to
reach the meeting-place in the pine woods, long before sunset. He sat
himself down in the leader's seat. And there he intended to stay as
long as he could.
At last his neighbors came straggling to the woods. And when the stranger
arrived he seemed annoyed because he could not have Mr. Crow's seat. And
he said in an undertone to Mr. Crow:
"I advise you to go home."
The old gentleman glared at him. And he answered in a loud voice:
"I advise you to go home yourself--_if you have a home to go to_!"
Now, some people thought that Mr. Crow's answer was a good one. So they
laughed. And that made the stranger feel quite uncomfortable.
But there were others who spoke up and said that Mr. Crow's remark was
very unkind. They knew that the stranger had a beautiful home, further
north, because he had told them all about it.
And that made him feel better once more.
Then old Mr. Crow called the meeting to order. And immediately the
stranger announced in a loud voice:
"I saw Farmer Green and he has surrendered!"
Then there was even more noise than is usual at a crow caucus.
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