BIRDS OF CHOCORUA 211 



so immeasurably withdrawn into the sky among 

 the stars. 



A yellow-billed cuckoo called from the thicket, 

 then, indignant at receiving no answer, sprung 

 his rattle and waited. Roused out of his first 

 slumber a white-throat gave a faint " tseep " of 

 surprise, then trembled into music for a moment 

 and went to sleep again. " Hap — pi — ness, hap- 

 pi-ness, happiness," he sang, the notes slip- 

 ping away into infinite distance and blending 

 with the perfect quiet of the night and the sky. 

 It was the very spirit of the place speaking 

 and reminding me again of the gentle writer 

 who sang so clearly of the peace and beauty of 

 the Chocorua woods and who now sleeps, after 

 singing. 



