HARBINGERS OF SUMMER 



The wood thrush is a shy bird at ordi- 

 nary times, but not when sitting on her 

 nest. Then she seems to suddenly acquire 

 a modest boldness that is as becoming as 

 the gentle shyness of other times. We 

 looked at one another in mutual friendli- 

 ness. I noted the bright cinnamon brown 

 of the head fading on the back to a soft 

 olive brown, the whole having the smooth- 

 ness and perfect fit of a lady's glove. The 

 white throat and some of the black mark- 

 ings on the white breast were visible above 

 the rim of the 'nest, and her bill pointed 

 skyward in the trustful, prayerful attitude 

 of all birds on the nest. Brooding mater- 

 nity has the same prayerful sweetness of 

 attitude in the wood thrush that it has in 

 the human mother. It always suggests 

 white hands clasped and raised in prayer 

 and thanksgiving. 



While I watched the wood thrush, a 



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