“Yes, I know you have,” replied Father Thrift. “And that is what has given you such a bad name with the farmer.
“By eating the seed or pulling up sprouting corn you spoil the crop. And so you have less food for yourselves in the end.”
“How is that?” asked Cousin Blackbird.
“Well,” explained Father Thrift, “every grain of corn you eat now would make ears of corn if you let it stay in the ground to grow.
“And of every ear of corn grown some kernels are left in the field in the shocking. So that for every kernel not eaten now you would have many kernels in the autumn.
“Besides, if you will keep the bad bugs and worms and grasshoppers out of my garden, I promise to give you every tenth ear of all the corn I grow.”
Then the crows got together. And all you could hear from them was a loud “Caw, caw, caw!”
But they must have agreed that Father Thrift’s proposal was a fair one. The old crow spoke for all the crows. He said:
“We will do as you ask, Father Thrift. We wish all farmers were as reasonable with us.