SPRING DAWN 



I had half hoped for a robin when it 

 came time for matins, for robins have 

 been about all winter, and here a song 

 sparrow, no doubt the first spray from 

 the northward surging wave of migratory 

 birds, was the first to break the winter 

 stillness. He had hardly piped his first 

 round, though, before the voices of blue- 

 birds murmured in the air above, and two 

 lighted on the willows, caroling in that 

 subdued manner which is the epitome of 

 gentleness. I think these two were mi- 

 grants, for later in the morning I heard 

 others. 



Then in a half minute there was a 

 shrilling of wings that beat the air rapidly 

 and six ducks swung over my head in the 

 rosy dusk. Most ducks make a swish- 

 ing sound with the wings when in rapid 

 flight, but this was so marked a sibillation 

 that I am quite sure it was a flock of 

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