38 SCenantfiJ of tl)e Exttu 



not shake off the idea of perpetual snow 

 and unending cold. My prophet's eye 

 was dim, and summer seemed ages away. 



To break the monotony of indoor life, 

 I went into the wood-shed for a whiff of 

 outside air, and to try if, by coaxing, 

 spring would show her sweet face. 



Fancy my astonishment and joy, almost 

 at the first moment, as though in greeting, 

 to hear three delicious little notes, sweet 

 as the breath of a new-born rose, and as 

 refreshing to the heart as an entirely new 

 joy. There was no mistaking the song. 

 It was as liquid and sweet as the sound of 

 molten silver falling into a resonant cru- 

 cible. 



" Cheer-i-ly, cheer-i-ly, cheer-i-ly, I 

 bring you an olive branch and a promise 

 of better days." 



My eyes swept the near-by fields for the 

 sweet little stranger, with a boy's eager- 



