152 PEPACTON \ 



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 



