YELLOW-BIRD. 145 



But thy sweet lay, 



Thou darling of the spring! no ear disdains; 

 Thy sage instructress, Nature, says, "Be gay!" 



And prompts thy strains. 



0, if I knew 



Like thee to sing, like thee the heart to fire, 

 Young should enchanted throng, and beauty sue 



To hear my lyre. 



Oft as the year 



In gloom is wrapp'd, thy exile I shall mourn, 

 Oft as the spring returns shall hail sincere 



Thy glad return. 



CHAPTER IV. 



YELLOW-BIRD, OR AMERICAN GOLD-FINCH. 

 Fringilla tristis. 



The Thistle, or Lettuce-bird, as he is 

 sometimes called, is one of our most 

 cheerful and light-hearted songsters. Joy- 

 13 



