The Music-makers. 79 



may be, for various unattainable 

 joys, while we disregard the ex- 

 quisite cup of pleasure which is 

 held out for our acceptance. So 

 blind are we, and deaf sometimes, 

 and dumb ! 



Perhaps in mid-winter we do 

 spare a moment to listen to the 

 Robin's song, to the Owl hooting in 

 the twilight, to the wild notes of 

 the Redwing coming across the frost. 

 But the music of the feathered folk 

 that is with us from March until 

 July we take for too much as a 

 mere matter of course ; just as we 

 are apt to take the sunshine of 

 summer, and the whiteness of spring 

 daisies in the grass. But let us 

 once mark the individuality of the 

 wild-birds' notes, once train the eye 

 and ear to catch their infinite 

 variety then few pleasures can be 

 dearer or purer than those which 

 the birds will render unto our 

 hearts. 



