Cuckoos and Swallows. 1 1 



staunch, ready to rear another brave 

 brood. 



And there would be the old 

 familiar feeling about it ! The same 

 syringa bush grew at the corner ; 

 the same poplar tree flung its flicker- 

 ing shadow over the yard; the same 

 great brown horses stamped about 

 the stones j the same blue and 

 yellow waggons stood back in the 

 shelter ; even the same hank of 

 cord hung on a peg behind the 

 door. 



And so, with a gladness shown 

 forth by little notes of broken song, 

 by much fluttering of feathers, and 

 glances of bright eyes, the Swallows 

 settled themselves once more in 

 their English home. 



If they had a feeling of pity for 

 the Cuckoo, out there on the 

 beech-tree, their sympathy was 

 wasted ; for the Homeless Bird 

 feels no sort of yearning for the 

 delights to them so dear. 



