Just now the crow was marching up and down on the window sill, going limpity-limp, for one leg was shorter than the other. Suddenly Mrs. Jenk tapped on the fence with a stick, and, at the same time, she snapped her fingers.
Instantly the lame, tame crow stood on his good leg, cocked his head to one side and stuck his short, lame leg out to one side, standing in this funny position as stiff and motionless as a stuffed bird. Then, suddenly, he made several popping sounds like corks being pulled from bottles.
“Oh, isn’t he funny!” laughed Janet. “He ought to be in a show!”
“Yes, Mr. Jenk had an offer from a theatrical man who wanted to put Jim in a show,” said Mrs. Jenk. “This man said our crow was quite valuable, but Mr. Jenk didn’t want to let him go. He says he is going to teach Jim more tricks.”
“Oh, I hope he does!” cried Janet. The crow stood on two legs again, and once more marched up and down the window sill. “Do you think I could make him stand that funny way and pop?” asked Janet.
“Try it,” suggested Mrs. Jenk.
The little girl tapped on the fence and snapped her fingers.
Instantly Jim stiffened, cocked his head on one side, stuck out his lame leg and stood on the other, stiff and motionless. Then he went:
“Pop! Pop! Pop!”
“Oh, I did it! I did it!” laughed Janet, as Mrs. Jenk went in the house. “I’m going to do it again.”