.,, THE WESTERN MEAlx tUt ARK. 



Ii.ivc almost I'Difjotlcn llic clioiiises of springtime and have come to acccjit 

 nur uncheered lot as part of the established order of things. Bnt on a nippy 

 Octol>er morning, as we are l)cn(ling over some dull ta.sk, there cnmcs a 

 sound which brings us to our feet. We ha.stcn to the window, throw up 

 the sash and lean out into the c<x)l, fresh air while a Mea<lowlarl< rehearses, 

 all at a sitting, the melodies of the year's youth. It all comes back to us 

 with a rush; the smell uf lush grasses, the splendor of ap|)lc blossoms, the 

 courage of lengthening days, the ecstacies of courtshi]) — all these are recalled 

 by the lark-song. It is as tho this forethoughted soul had caught the nuisic 

 of a Mav (lav, ju.st at its prime, in a crystal vase, and was now pouring out 

 the imprisoned sound in a gurgling, golden ll(«id. What cheer! What 

 heartening! Vea ; what rejuvenation it brings! Wine of youth! Splashes 

 of color and gay delight! 



It is impt)ssil)le not to rhapsodize over the Meadowlark. lie is a rhaj)- 

 sodist himself. Born of the soil and lost in its embraces for such time as it 

 pleases him, he yet quits his lowly station ever and again, mounts some fence- 

 |>ost or tree-top, and publislies to the world an unquenchable gladness in 

 things-as-thev-are. If at sunrise, then the gleams of the early ray flash 

 resplendent froni his golden breastplate, — this high-jjriest of morning; and 

 all Nature echoes his joyous blast: "Thank Go<^l for sunshine!" Or if the 

 rain l)egins to fall, who so quickly grateful for its refreshment as this o])timist 

 of the ground, this prophet of g(M)<l cheer! There is even an added note 

 of exultation in his voice as he shouts: "Thank (lod for rain!" And who 

 like him can sing farewell to parting day! Piercing sweet from the meadows 

 come the last offerings of day's daysmen. |)eal and counteri)eal from rival 

 friendlv thmats. unfailing, unfaltering, luisubdued : "It is giKid to live. It 

 is good to rest. Thank GikI for the day now done!"' 



The Meadowlark of the liast has a i)oet's soul but he lacks an adefpiate 

 instrument t>f expression. His voice does not res|)ond to his requirement. 

 I'erhaps his early education, as a sjiecies. was neglected. Certain it is that 

 in passing westward across the prairies of Ii>wa or Miiuiesota one notices 

 an instant change in the voices of the Meadowlarks. The song of the 

 western bird is sweeter, clearer, louder, longer and more varied. The differ- 

 ence is so striking that we can explain it only u|>on the su])|>osition of an 

 independent development. The western bird got his early training where 

 prairie wild flowers of a thousand hues ministcre<l to his senses, where breath 

 of pine mingled faintly with the aroma of neighboring cactus bloom, and 

 where the sight of distant moimtains tired the im.igination of a poet race. 

 At any rate we of the West are proud of the Western Meadowlark and would 

 have yon l)elievc that such a blithe si)irit coukl evolve only under such 

 circumstances. 



