III4 



Rural School Leaflet 



WINTER BIRDS 

 The Editors 



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J-> V 



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" 77?e worfft toth^ doth blow 

 And we shall have snow, 



And what will the robin do then, poor thing! 

 He will fly to the barn 

 To keep himself warm, 



And hide his head under his wing, poor thing! " 



This old rhyme, so full of interest for the young and of memories for the 

 old, has a tender note of sympathy for the winter birds. Usually a robin 

 knows how to seek comfort, and departs from most sections of the State 

 long before the north wind blows very much; but there are other birds 

 that brave the wind and the sleet and the snow, and here and there appear 

 in wood or wayside or in our dooryards. 



Some day when " the north wind doth blow " there should be a school 

 hour with the winter birds. Teacher and children will enjoy going out 

 of the close room for a few minutes to feel the old north wind as it comes 

 sweeping from the hills and blustering along the highways. The boys 

 and girls will whiff the promise of snow, gladness will fill their young 

 hearts, and a real touch with nature will be possible. The bleak hillsides, 

 the brown fields, the gray skies, the white (lakes, have much charm. 

 Perhaps a chickadee, a nuthatch, or a crow will share the hour. 



