TKHben Grass id <3reen 



directly overhead and began a piteous appeal. 

 The birds from all about (except the cat-bird) 

 through sympathy joined in, and I was soundly 

 berated. I moved again, but the birds followed, 

 and promised me no peace while I remained un- 

 der the oaks. It was too hot to leave altogether, 

 and I prepared for a real nap, but this was im- 

 practicable. Over and above the loudest chirps 

 was heard an ominous humming as of swarming 

 bees, and looking upward I saw not bees, but a 

 cloud of mosquitoes. As a puff of smoke they 

 had suddenly appeared, and the branches of the 

 oaks had caught them. 



Was I to run for dear life over those hot fields ? 

 I sat very still, but never took my eyes from the 

 cloud in the branches. There they seemed con- 

 tented to remain, and the birds flitted about be- 

 neath them, but not even the vireo disturbed 

 them. So long as they kept above I enjoyed their 

 presence. It was something novel ; but this was 

 not to be continued. I moved to get a drink; 

 the birds renewed their clatter, and down the cloud 

 came. I darted into the open, and used my hat 

 for a brush, escaping any harm ; but the warmth 

 of that mid-day run ! The grass was brittle ; the 

 ground, an oven floor ; and the breeze that passed 

 by, the breath of a furnace. When I did stop, to my 

 surprise, an indigo bird flew to the fence post and 

 sang as cheerfully as though it was after sunset. 



It is not a pleasant thought that man, who 

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