The Masquerading Chickadee* 



BY EDITH M. THOMAS 



I came to the woods in the dead of the year, 



I saw the wing'd sprite thro' the green-brier peeping 

 ' Darling of Winter, you've nothing to fear, 



Though the brandies are bare and the cold earth is 

 sleeping I " 



With a dec, dec, dee ! the sprite seemed to say, 

 "I'm friends with the Maytime as well as December, 

 And I'll meet you here on a fair-weather day ; 

 Here, in the green-brier thicket. — remember!" 



I came to the woods in the spring of the ^ear. 

 And I followed a voice that was most entreating : 



Phcbc ' Phebe .' (and yet more near), 

 Phche / Phcbc ! it kept repeating ! 



I gave up the search, when, not far away, 



I saw the wing'd sprite thro' the green-brier peeping, 

 With a Phebe! Phebe I that seemed to say, 

 "I told you so ! and my promise I'm keeping. " 



You'll know me again, when you meet me here. 

 Whether you come in December or Maytime : 



I've a dee, dee, dee.' for the W^inter's ear, 



And a Phcbc: Phcbc! for Spring and Playtime!" 



*" March i, 1856.— I hear several times the fine drawn Phe-be note of the Chickadee, which I heard 

 only once during the winter."—" Early Spring in Massachusetts."— Thorkau. 



Matins 



BY ROSA MEYERS MUMMA 



As sable night fades into soft rose tint, 

 Through leafy aisles slow filters daylight's glint ; 

 From green tree arch is faintly heard the call 

 Which summons quickly feathered choir all 

 To Nature's vast cathedral, where in song 

 Unite the worshippers, a feathered throng. 

 What harmonies pour forth from each bird throat ! 

 A morning prayer ascends with each clear note. 



(77) 



