152 PEP ACTON 



A few days ago, Winter had not perceptibly 

 relaxed his hold; then suddenly he began to soften 

 a little, and a warm haze to creep up from the 

 south, but not a solitary bird, save the winter resi- 

 dents, was to be seen or heard. Next day the sun 

 seemed to have drawn immensely nearer; his beams 

 were full of power; and we said, "Behold the first 

 spring morning! And, as if to make the prophecy 

 complete, there is the note of a bluebird, and it is 

 not yet nine o'clock." Then others, and still oth- 

 ers, were heard. How did they know it was going 

 to be a suitable day for them to put in an appear- 

 ance ? It seemed as if they must have been waiting 

 somewhere close by for the first warm day, like 

 actors behind the scenes, the moment the curtain 

 was lifted, they were ready and rushed upon the 

 stage. The third warm day, and, behold, all the 

 principal performers come rushing in, song spar- 

 rows, cow blackbirds, grackles, the meadowlark, 

 cedar- birds, the phoebe-bird, and, hark! what bird 

 laughter was that ? the robins, hurrah ! the robins ! 

 Not two or three, but a score or two of them; they 

 are following the river valley north, and they stop 

 in the trees from time to time, and give vent to 

 their gladness. It is like a summer picnic of school 

 children suddenly let loose in a wood; they sing, 

 shout, whistle, squeal, call, etc., in the most blithe- 

 some strains. The warm wave has brought the 

 birds upon its crest; or some barrier has given way, 

 the levee of winter has broken, and spring comes 

 like an inundation. No doubt, the snow and the 



