Dick 



And he — only a bit of a Yellow-bird you 

 could hold in the hollow of your hand! 



Small wonder is it that the dwarf Cedar 

 from the glen with its frozen fountain — 

 the Cedar that keeps sturdy vigil all alone 

 in the snow out front — looks very stern 

 and grave this relentless afternoon because 

 of the tiny dead thing we have just hidden 

 in the brown earth at its feet! — small 

 wonder is it! For the dwarf Cedar was 

 kin to Yellow-bird, and stood near enough 

 the door to know of his doings within. 



And, ah me, how charming they all were! 



When he wearied of singing he would 

 call — wistfully, if you failed to hear; mer- 

 rily, when you came. 



And such fluttering followed! — such de- 

 light! — such nestling and withdrawal! — 

 such kissing of the Ups, dainty as a snow- 

 flake on a rose! — such earnest scanning of 

 the face and peering into the eyes, and 

 chirping, and caressing and devotion! 



Ah me. Yellow-bird! — was all this first 

 in the Father heart that made you, to teach 

 us how to love? 



. [177] 



