CHIPMUNKS, BLUEBIRDS, ROBINS 229 



and coming in the most industrious and 

 businesslike manner. She would pass the 

 winter in a state of hibernation, without a 

 doubt, but her conduct obviously implied 

 that she expected to see a time now and 

 then when a bite of something to eat would 

 " come handy." 



My 10th of March chipmunks were a wel- 

 come sight. I wondered how long they had 

 been awake. For several days, probably. 

 And I tried to imagine what it must be like 

 to open one's eyes after a five months' nap. 

 Hibernation has the look of a miracle. And 

 yet, what is it but a longer sleep? Well, 

 perhaps sleep itself is a miracle as truly 

 so as life or thought. Probably, the world 

 being all of a piece, if we understood one 

 thing we should understand everything. Who 

 knows? Anyhow, spring had come. 



But there were no bluebirds. I kept on 

 for two hours, past the likeliest of places, 

 but saw and heard nothing. It was too bad, 

 but there was no help for it. Bluebirds, 

 blackbirds, song sparrows, fox sparrows, all 

 were still to be looked for. 



Then I sat indoors for an hour or two ; 



