64 THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN 



of thousands of wild birds, and St. Cuthbert, a man 

 of gentle and humble spirit, found one of his chief 

 joys in the companionship of the birds. Historians 

 tell us that the seagulls would nestle in his bosom 

 and feed from his hand, and he was especially fond 

 of the eider ducks. He even gave up to his bird 

 friends the scanty harvest of barley grown for his 

 own use. 



The Fame Isles are now kept as a sanctuary for 

 wild birds, where they may not be molested, a 

 memorial to St. Cuthbert that surely he must 

 greatly appreciate 1 



" The lark upon his skyward way, 

 The robin on the hedgerow spray, 

 The bee within the wild thyme's bloom. 

 The owl amid the cypress gloom, 

 All sing in every varied tone 

 A Vesper to the Great Unknown." 



Eliza Cook 



