On Hearing a Winter Wren Sing in W^inter 



By LYNN TEW SPRAGUE 



When wintry winils through woodlands blow 

 And naked tree-tops shake and shiver ; 

 While all the paths were bound in snow. 

 And thick ice cliains the merry river, 



One little feathered denizen, 



A plump and nut-brown winter wren. 



Sings of spring-time even there — 

 "• Tsip-tvvis-ch-e-e-e cheerily-cheerily-dare ' — 



Who could listen and despair ? 



Charmed with the sweetness of his strain, 



My heart found cheer in winter's bluster ; 



The leafless wood was fair again, 



Its ice-gems sparkled with new luster. 



The tiny, trembling, tinkling throat 

 Poured forth despair's sure antidote, 

 No leafy June hears sweeter note — 

 '■ Tsip-twis-ch-e-e-e cheerily-cheerily-dare " 

 The essence of unspoken prayer. 



"CALGHT IN JHh AC i " 

 Ycllow-bollifd Sapsuckcr iordinn nii s.ip of mnuntain oak. Phoiouraphcd froiii naliirc by Dr. Tln)>. S. Robrrts al 



Minnrnpoliii. Minn.. June zn. n^i 



