Hay Days and Meadow Larks 



particular good, and taxed all the 

 resources of birdland to protect the 

 nestlings from the deluge. It came 

 out of the north, near the close of an 

 oppressive day. Usually such violence 

 approaches us from the west, traveling 

 towards the great lake, instead of from 

 it. It took several days to clear away 

 the minor debris of leaves, twigs, dead 

 branches and a few live ones left 

 by the gusty northern gale that 

 stretched the rainfall into horizontal 

 streams. Objects a hundred yards 

 distant could not be distinguished 

 through the flying rivers of mist and 

 rain. From the porch we could almost 

 fancy we were in the heart of a heavy 

 storm at sea. The steady deck, how- 

 ever, soon dispelled the notion, and 

 presently we could see drenched tree- 

 tops instead of blue walls of water 

 riding out the squall. 



The young larks were now about 

 ready to leave the nest. Their downy 

 covering had turned, almost miracu- 



[47] 



