2Cfie li^atvtiinoet of Sjittnfl 4i 



God must have planted in the heart of 

 the first bluebird a seed of optimism, and 

 the flower of hope, for he is the sunniest, 

 cheeriest little herald that ever carried 

 good tidings. 



For several days after this first glimpse 

 of this bright blue coat, we saw nothing 

 of him. 



He was probably hiding in a barn, or 

 in some other sheltered nook, until 

 warmer days. He had done his part for 

 that week at least, and was bound to take 

 the best possible care of himself, for was 

 he not the first bluebird, and of more im- 

 portance than a whole flock of his fellows 

 who would appear later ? Had he not re- 

 vived the fainting hearts of those great 

 silly bipeds, men, and given them faith in 

 the power that never fails ? 



I often wonder if his toes are not cold, 

 as he perches upon the bar-post of a bleak 



