BIRD DAY. 



HE United States Department 

 of Agriculture issued in July, 

 1896, a circular suggesting 

 that a "Bird Day" be added 

 school calendar. In this circu- 

 Sterling Morton, Secretary of 

 Agriculture, says : 



" The cause of bird protection is one 

 that appeals to the best side of our 

 natures. L,et us yield to the appeal. 

 Let us have a Bird Day a day set 

 apart from all the other days of the 

 year to tell the children about the 

 birds. But we must not stop here. 

 We should strive continually to develop 

 and intensify the sentiment of bird 

 protection, not alone for the sake of 

 preserving the birds, but also for the 

 sake of replacing as far as possible the 

 barbaric impulses inherent in child 

 nature by the nobler impulses and 

 aspirations that should characterize ad- 

 vanced civilization." 



Prof. C. A. Babcock, superintendent 

 of schools, Oil City, Pa., who has acted 

 upon the suggestion in his schools, 

 says: 



" The preservation of the birds is 

 not merely a matter of sentiment, or of 

 education in that high and fine feeling, 

 kindness to all living things. - It has 

 an utilitarian side of vast extent, as 

 broad as our boundless fields and our 

 orchards' sweep. The birds are nec- 

 essary to us. Only by their means can 

 the insects which injure, and if not 

 checked, destroy vegetation, be kept 

 within bounds. . . . 



"What is most needed is the knowl- 

 edge of the birds themselves, their 

 modes of life, their curious ways, and 

 their relation to the scheme of things. 

 To know a bird is to love him. Birds 

 are beautiful and interesting objects of 

 study and make appeals to children 

 that are responded to with delight." 



MARCH. 



The stormy March has come at last, 



With wind and cloud and changing skies, 



I hear the rushing of the blast, 

 That through the snowy valley flies. 



Ah, passing few are they who speak, 

 Wild stormy month ! in praise of thee; 



Yet, though thy winds are loud and bleak, 

 Thou art a welcome month to me. 



For thou, to northern lands, again 

 The glad and glorious sun dost bring, 



And thou hast joined the gentle train 

 And wear'st the gentle name of Spring. 



And, in thy reign of blast and storm, 

 Smiles many a long, bright, sunny day, 



When the changed winds are soft and warm, 

 And heaven puts on the blue of May. 



Then sing aloud the gushing rills, 



And the full springs, from frost set free, 

 That, brightly leaping down the hills, 



Are j ust set out to meet the sea. 



BRYANT. 



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