32 MAINE STATE SOCIETY. 



not lead liim a single day or a hour from his common employments. 

 I allude to the usefulness of the birds, which take up their abode or 

 build their nests in his trees, in his garden, orchard, wood and thicket, 

 every spring, and help him with their work and beauty, and music, 

 till the return of winter. He should welcome these tiny hunters of 

 the atmosphei'e, and these minstrels of the grove, these fly-catchers, 

 and worm-diggers, these sweet warblers of the morning, the noon 

 day and evening, to his domain, and afford them the protection, and 

 appreciative regard to which they are entitled. "Whatever they may 

 take of grain, or fruit, in their excursions about the fields, or from 

 tree to tree, or from shrub to vine, in the garden, they render more 

 than ample remuneration for. It is believed by our wisest orchard- 

 ists and gardeners, that the ravages of the curculio, and other destruc- 

 tive insects, did not cover a great extent of country till the birds 

 began to vanish before the blasting ban and fire of selfish, short- 

 sighted men, and heedless, wanton boys. So, don't kill the birds. 

 Let old and young on every farm, allow them every privilege they 

 need. I cannot think that a farmer looses any thing of his dignity, 

 or that he wastes his time, when he observes, and leads his children to 

 observe, the forms of the little birds around his home, their plumage, 

 their habits and skill, or when he hears and calls his family to 

 listen to the enchanting melody which they pour from their trem- 

 bling throats. I am drawn to him as to a man of elevated thought, 

 and benevolent heart, if I learn that he watches fondly for tbe return 

 of the robin and the swallow ; that he knows where the oriole has 

 hung his nest, or that the blue bird has come again to his retreat in 

 the apple-tree's trunk ; that he turns aside so not to scare the red- 

 start from the alders by the stream, or the goldfinch from the lilac 

 near his mansion's gate ; or that he turns his ear with delight to the 

 voice of the starling in the sun-light of the meadow, or to thq notes 

 of the wood-thrush in the shades of the forest. 



There may be some men among us, who would not miss the birds, 

 if a pestilence should destroy them all. If so, they are not to be 

 envied for their mental condition or their taste. Insignificant as 

 these little inhabitants and voyagers of the air may be in contrast 

 ' with the larger and more powerful creatures, the ox and the horse, 

 which we press into our service, not one of them falls to the ground 

 without the notice of God's eye : they teach us as well as prophets, 



