other Papers. 269 



way." In sympathy with this feeling, the Scotch plowman broke 

 forth in these ever memorable lines : 



" Inhuman man ! Curse on thy barbarous art, 

 And blasted be thy murder- aiming eye ; 

 May never pity sooth thee with a sigh, 

 Nor ever pleasure glad thy cruel heart." 



It is now almost twenty years since the writer removed to his 

 present homestead. The place was then a wild tangle of vines, 

 jimsons, a brush fence, a weedy corn-field and a few apple trees, 

 set there by some predecessor, selected when seven or eight years 

 old in order to get apples the first year. The lay of the jay bird 

 and carrion crow was occasionally heard ; "only that, and 

 nothing more." Trees were put out as rapidly as possible, both 

 shade and fruit ; and the exi)erience has been, the younger the tree, 

 so it does not exceed one year old, the better. Bird boxes were put 

 up, because the writer, recalling his childhood's days and his de- 

 light during that period of nature and innocence, — in his bird- 

 boxes, — was bound that three little shavers who then nightly gath- 

 ered upon his knees would experience a similai' delight, knowing- 

 its wholesome, humanizing effect. 



The prospect for tree-growing seemed dubious ; for, at that 

 time and for years before, every tree, every spot favorable to them 

 was disfigured by the nests of what are called tent-caterpillars. 

 Every leaf was consumed off most of the trees, and, the leaves 

 being the lungs, the trees would decline and die. The idea of 

 destroying these pests by the usual methods tried seemed in this 

 case hopeless, for every branch of every tree would have its nest of 

 these worms. But the martins and blue-birds had taken possession 

 of the boxes and were warring for supremacy. At first the policy, 

 the foolish policy, of meddling with nature and siding with the 

 martins was begun, but soon wiser counsels prevailed — more boxes 

 were put up and also boxes for the wrens, and nature was thus 

 patted on the back, instead of being knocked in the head, as 

 doctors say should ever be done. Later a similar policy was advised 

 and adopted, when some of our most valuable birds were found too 

 fond of cherries, etc. More trees were planted, cherry trees for 

 the birds alone. 



The cries and songs and sports of the martins, blues and 

 wrens began to call other birds. A captive red bird was placed in 

 the yard to sing, where he drew others of his splendid tribe, where- 

 upon he was soon released and we have ever since enjoyed the 

 glorious voice of this songster and his descendants, who are known 



