BLIZZARD OF 1888 



43 



The crow impressed one with his self-importance, strutting up and 

 down our fields like a landed proprietor. Very sociable and interest- 

 ing he proved, and when a young one was captured his antics were al- 

 most human. He is a type of the exasperating bombastic and self-suf- 

 ficient man, the impressionist, life with whom is "caw" and "caw" 

 again. He listens with supercilious and distracted mien, only to 

 endeavor to outdo and overshadow with the account of his own or his 

 friend's doings, in his anxiety to be heard cutting short the finale 

 of your tale. 



But for real bubbling-over cheerfulness, give me the chickadee. 

 The snow might drift across the lane level with fence top, and trees 

 and buildings be festooned therewith, yet the cheery "here I be" of 

 this optimist brightened the most forlorn day. 



)*. 



rv. 



"gvajfat. 



BLIZZARD OF 1888. 



Blizzard of 1888. Bird Callers. 



I recall that in the blizzard of 1888, when we had to tunnel a 

 snowdrift to reach the outer world as well as to feed stock, the 

 chickadee was our first caller, forced to tap at a second story window- 

 pane for his breakfast. Snow buntings, nuthatches, downy wood- 

 peckers, and tree sparrows vigorously hunted for seeds and grubs in 

 meadow and orchard and also patronized our suet lunch counter nailed 

 to a near by apple tree. Winter seemed to make hopping sparrows 

 and waddling starlings thoroughly dissatisfied with themselves and 

 their surroundings; I fancy the gray skies grayed their lives, as gray 

 skies affect some humans. 



