36 Twelve Months With 



He seeks no publicity, and seems not to care for 

 public favor or approval. These traits make him 

 none the less worthy of our love and apprecia- 

 tion; indeed, how much finer is it for virtue to 

 be found out, than that it should proclaim itself 

 from the treetops. If this towhee would come out 

 of his quiet haunts and perch himself upon a high 

 tree, and, facing the setting sun, sing us a ringing 

 song after the fashion of the robin or the wood 

 thrush, he would be instantly and eternally famous. 

 Isn't it fortunate that we love some birds for their 

 quiet, modest and gentle ways, and that we may 

 also love others for their impudence and noise! 

 Birds thus resemble men in their varying indi- 

 vidual traits and characteristics. 



The meadowlarks do not often come into my 

 yard, altho' they will now and then alight in a 

 tree for a few moments in passing, but I can hear 

 their clear, ringing call every day in the meadows 

 adjoining the river, two blocks distant. Few bird 

 songs have the penetrating intensity of the meadow- 

 lark's. While traveling through the country by 

 rail I have frequently heard its ringing call at 

 intervals above the noise and rattle of the train, 

 recalling the lines of Ina D. Coolbrith: 



"Sweet, sweet, sweet! Oh happy that I am! 



(Listen to the meadow-larks across the fields 



that sing!) 



Sweet, sweet, sweet, O subtle breath of balm, 

 O winds that blow, O buds that grow, O rapture of 

 the spring!" 



