certain that the intrusion had proved harmless, the bird would only go off a few 

 feet, utter a feeble complaint, or remain wholly silent, and almost instantly re- 

 sume her seat. In spring, the male, as in many other species of the genus, pre- 

 cedes a little the arrival of his mate. Toward the latter end of summer the young 

 and old feed much on such juicy fruits as mulberries, cornel berries and other 

 kinds. 



The Mocking Bird 



By Frank L. Stanton 



He didn't know much music 



When first he come along; 

 An' all the birds went wonderin' 



Why he didn't sing a song. 



They primped their feathers in the sun, 

 An' sung their sweetest notes ; 



An' music jest come on the run 

 From all their purty throats! 



But still that bird was silent 



In summer time an' fall ; 

 He jest set still an' listened 



An' he wouldn't sing at all ! 



But one night when them songsters 



Was tired out an' still, 

 An' the wind sighed down the valley 



An' went creepin" up the hill ; 



When the stars was all a-trembJe 

 In the dreamin' fields o' blue. 



An' the daisy in the darkness 

 Felt the fallin' o' the dew, — 



There come a sound o' melody 



No mortal ever heard, 

 An' all the birds seemed singin' 



From the throat o' one sweet bird ! 



Then the other l)irds went playin' 

 In a land too fur to call ; 

 Fer there warn't no use in slayin' 



When one bird could sing fer all ! 



106 



