The Mystery of the Black Raven Read Free Page A

Benny said. “Just like Uncle Edward did.”
    Everyone laughed except the Pittmans.
    “You’ll have a chance to hunt for gold,” Grandfather said. “Though not exactly the way Uncle Edward did. For one thing, we won’t travel to the goldfields where the Four Rock Miners staked their claim. That’s in the Yukon Territory.”
    “We’ll learn more about the sourdoughs tomorrow when we take the guided tour,” Miss Parker said.
    Violet saw Monique elbow her brother and roll her eyes skyward. Violet suspected the two teenagers would complain all along the tour.
    “It’d better be interesting,” said Mrs. Pittman. “I didn’t come all this way to listen to a bunch of guides.”
    “Yeah,” said Monique. “I want to shop.”
    Grandfather tapped his spoon gently on his water glass to get everyone’s attention.
    “Ladies and gentlemen of the Four Rock Miners reunion. We have an important ceremony to perform. Ready, Miss Parker?”
    “Yes, indeed!” The teacher’s eyes were bright.
    She was certainly having a good time, Violet noted. She leaned forward to see what would happen next.
    Miss Parker brought her gray leather tote bag from under the table and put it on her lap. When she spoke, she reminded Violet of the mayor of Greenfield whenever he made the Fourth of July speech.
    “I hereby pass on the Four Rock Miners’ sacred mementos to this year’s caretaker.”
    Benny whispered to Jessie, “What did she say?”
    “It was just a little speech,” Jessie whispered back.
    Miss Parker drew two paper-wrapped bundles from her bag. One was flat and rectangular-shaped. The other was a rounded knobby lump.
    “What are those?” asked Benny.
    “You’ll see shortly,” Miss Parker answered, “since your grandfather is this year’s caretaker.” Her tone became serious again. “James Alden, do you hereby agree to accept and take excellent care of these items?”
    “I do,” Grandfather answered solemnly.
    Miss Parker handed him the wrapped bundles. “Enjoy!”
    Now everyone was curious, even Mark and Monique.
    “What’s in the packages?” asked Benny again. “Is it your birthday, Grandfather?”
    James Alden laughed. “No, it’s not my birthday.” He unwrapped the round, lumpy bundle first.
    It was a dark gray, nearly black, statue of a bird about five inches high. The bird had a large head and a thick beak. Wing feathers and other details were etched in stone.
    “What an ugly statue!” commented Mrs. Pittman.
    “It’s a raven,” replied Miss Parker. “A bird very important to the Native Americans who live up here. There are lots of raven stories in their culture.”
    “But why do you have it?” Mr. Pittman said to Grandfather. “Looks like a weird present, if you ask me.”
    “The other package will answer your questions,” said Grandfather. He opened the rectangular bundle.
    It was an old book bound in black leather. Holes had been punched in the cover. Black laces threaded through the holes held the pages.
    Grandfather carefully flipped back the cover to the first page. Beneath an old photograph was some fancy writing.
    Jessie, who was sitting next to him, read out loud, “‘Our Adventure in Alaska, by Edward J. Alden.’”
    “This is a scrapbook made by my great-uncle Edward Alden,” Grandfather told the group. “He took photos and kept a diary. When the miners left their claim, they bought this raven in Skagway as a souvenir. Then Edward made a scrapbook from his pictures and diary.”
    “So that’s what he did with the pictures he took,” said Violet. As the family photographer, she’d been curious.
    Miss Parker took up the story. “The first year when they met in this very hotel, Edward showed the others the scrapbook. They decided that each year one of them would keep the raven and the scrapbook, until the next reunion. Then the items would be passed on to another member.”
    “That is so neat,” said Jennifer Wilson, gently touching the raven.
    “When their relatives