You would not take his mate to be any relation to him, they are so unlike — 

 she is a dull brownish blackbird. Her head and back are a dirty black streaked 

 with rusty brown. The breast is covered with short, narrow streaks of black 

 and white. Usually her shoulder has no scarlet epaulet though sometimes it has 

 a reddish tinge. 



The farmer again finds a friend in these birds for injurious insects and 

 seeds make up more than three-fourths of their food. 



In the summer and early fall they gather in large flocks and forage over 

 the grain and corn fields. Now the farmer thinks they are doing him an injury, 

 and no doubt they are, especially when the flocks are very large ; but he should 

 not forget their valuable service through the months of spring and early summer 

 when they were eating cut-worms, army-worms, locusts and grasshoppers. Had 

 it not been for these birds, he would not have as much grain to divide with them. 



Before and After Summer 



By Thomas Hardy 



Looking forward to the Spring 

 One puts up with anything. 

 On this February day, 

 When the winds leap down the street. 

 Wintry scourgings seem but play; 

 And these later shafts of sleet — 

 Sharper pointed than the first — 

 And these later snows — the worst — 

 Are a half-transparent pane 

 Giving on a bright domain. 



Shadows of the October pine 

 Reach into this room of mine: 

 On the pine there stands a bird ; 

 He is shadowed with the tree. 

 Mutely perched he bills no word; 

 Blank as I am even is he. 

 For those happy suns are past 

 Forediscerned in winter last. 

 When went by their pleasure then? 

 I, alas, discerned not when. 



203 



