A HERMIT'S WILD FRIENDS 



" Just before night the rain suddenly 

 ceased. The sun burst through the clouds, 

 and the wind completely died out. Save for 

 the sound of dropping water, the forest was 

 silent and solemn. A glowing sunset, paint- 

 ing all the clouds of the western sky, aroused 

 me from my miserable thoughts. Just then 

 the song of the hermit-thrush floated up from 

 a neighboring swamp. Clear and pure the 

 flute-like notes slowly echoed through the silent 

 woods. The moist and hollow atmosphere 

 magnified the slightest sound, and I could 

 distinguish the fine trills which form a part 

 of this famous song. ' O, phee-re-al, phee- 

 re-al! ' represents the strain as near as I can 

 give it in words. 



" I would that I were able to express in 

 fitting language the feelings with which I am 

 inspired when I listen to the song of the 

 hermit-thrush. It satisfies rny sense of the 

 beautiful as no other song can. And yet I 

 am never quite satisfied. There is something 

 I do not understand. Something beyond me, 

 a shadowy mystery. After I have listened to 

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