56 Redf hff 



* Thump, chump, thunder-r-r-r-r-r-rrrr* 

 ' Tliump, thump, tJiimder-r-r-r-r-r-rrrr ' 

 he rumbled again and again. 

 ' Day after day he sought the favorite log, an^ 



^i a new beauty, a rose-red comb, grew out above 

 ^*^^i:i:^ each clear, keen eye, and the clumsy snow 

 II shoes were wholly shed from his feet. His ruP 

 f g/ew finer, his eye brighter, and his whole ap 

 pearance splendid to behold, as he strutted and 

 flashed in the sun. But — oh ! he was so lone^ 

 some 710 w. 



Yet what could he do but blindly vent his 

 hankering in this daily drum-parade, till on 5, 

 day early in loveliest May, when the trilliums 

 had fringed his log with silver stars, and he hati 

 drummed and longed, then drummed again, his 

 keen ear caught a souna, a gentle footfall in the 

 brush. He turned to a statue and watched 

 he knew he had been watched. Could it be 

 possible ? Yes ! there it was — a form — another 

 — a shy little lady grouse, now bashfully seek- 

 ing to hide. In a moment he was by her side- 

 His whole nature swamped by a new feeling — 

 burnt up with thirst — a cooling spring in sight. 

 And how he spread and flashed his proud array ! 

 How came he to know that that would please? 

 He puffed his plumes and contrived to stand 

 just right to catch the sun, and strutted and 



