INTRODUCTION. 



'T'HE letters here collected were first 

 published in Worcester newspapers. 

 The theme, almost universally attractive, 

 has found few students willing to devote to 

 it that degree of patient observation and 

 comparison necessary to its knowledge. 

 That the birds are singing about us, that 

 their music forms part of the great har- 

 mony of Nature, that when noblest desires 

 and sweetest anticipations inspire our cour- 

 age, then are our cheerful spirits most 

 nearly in tune with the songs of these 

 unfeed minstrels, — all this we know. 



But there is an added delight, which 

 they who seek it find, in intimate acquaint- 

 ance with the singer, in possessing per- 



