158 Thirtieth Animal Meeting 



the brow flushed by the hasty preparations. Passing down 

 through the orchard, his heart is thrilled by the morning hymn_ 

 of the warbler, unconsciously the pure melody of the boy's heart 

 bursts forth in answering strains. The robin, in the cherry tree^ 

 ceases his labors for a brief moment, to listen, his archly poised 

 head disclosing a breast ruby red, as though dyed with the stolen 

 fruit. A sharp tramp over the hills to the brook, then — the 

 stealthy approach, the light cast, the quick rush, the long 

 struggle, the light rod bends like a reed, every nerve quivers. It 

 is over, he lies in the wet grass, gasping for breath, his heaving 

 sides, richly colored and gaily marked glisten in the morning 

 light. The fiercely gleaming eye tells of a spirit unsubdued, cap- 

 tive but unconquered. The wild joy of the conquest passes 

 away leaving only a feeling of admiration. Isn't he a noble fel- 

 low ! The creator could have made a better fish, l)ut — in His wis- 

 dom — He did not. 



