Christmas Out of Doors. 205 



purple ? Let such a question come to mind ; 

 puzzle over it, and see more in winter than a 

 mere cemetery of the summer. Do this, and 

 you will not be so surprised at the Carolina 

 wren's sudden outburst of Cheerfully, cheer- 

 fully, cheerfully ! because you are now so 

 cheerful yourself. 



I fancy the attractiveness of in-door festivities 

 of a Christmas Day will always be enhanced, by 

 way of the contrast, if we have a Christmas 

 outing in the same twenty-four hours. We can 

 better keep our own holiday if we know some- 

 thing of how Nature is celebrating hers. Better 

 this than by taking a nap after dinner, as we 

 are apt to do. Doubtless Nature sleeps in the 

 moon and not even dreams, if astronomers are 

 not mistaken, but here on earth one can find 

 activity enough even in late December, if we 

 know how to go in search of it. The Carolina 

 wren is sufficient of himself to guide you into 

 paths of pleasantness and of surprisingly active 

 celebrations of upland and meadow merriment, 

 but never for one instant think this bird is left 

 alone to keep creation in good spirits. There 

 is the cardinal, that whistles not to keep his 



