A Book on Birds 



little fleecy clusters, white as snow and 

 shining like transparent silver, heightened 

 all the deeper and dominant effulgence 

 which held sway beneath them and beyond. 



Thus — from shadowy river, and the 

 meadows drenched with rain, and the lower- 

 ing frown and menace of many wooded 

 summits the sun withdrew with transcend- 

 ent rejoicing; and yet almost as unnoticed 

 of humanity in the silence as though its 

 departure were at the very beginning of time 

 and the earth itself still unpeopled. Except, 

 perchance, that a home-bound toiler here 

 and there looked up a little and was rested 

 in his heart; or that some child paused 

 in its evening play with wide and wondering 

 eyes and was given, as it gazed, a vague, 

 sweet sense of Eden and the gardens of 

 the blest. 



Except for this, and then, as I have said 

 (and indeed in keeping with it), the uni- 

 versal stirring and singing which followed 

 after, among the re-awakened birds. 



But, behold !—^Tifth avenue^' at last; and 

 right around the corner ^Tanglewood lane^'! 



[102] 



