I R C O U N T R Y H O M E 



began to be more hopeful as his cries ceased, but in the morning, 

 whether from cold or from hunger, the poor little chimney-swift 

 was dead. 



Aug. 1 Even when working with my back to that tempting 

 window a shadow darts across the sunlight, and before I can reason 



1 have turned and am looking out. Was it a falling leaf or the 

 downward flight of a wild bird ? How exquisite the poise of the 

 wide-winged hawk overhead, the almost imperceptible turn, the 

 lift, and the graceful sweep away into the azure ! Is he an enemy 

 to the poultry plant? We do not keep chickens; we look upon 

 him as a thing of beauty only. 



Aug. 13 A rainy day, not our usual brief thundery deluge out 

 of the northwest, but a soft patter of drops on the brick terrace 

 when I awoke, and a smooth gray curtain all over the sky. How 

 pungent the perfume of each aromatic shrub and thirsty leaf! It 

 is as if the earth and all it produces could not be grateful enough 

 for its keen refreshment. Even the birds voice their thanksgiving; 

 the song-sparrow trills forth his exquisite notes, and from his hang- 

 ing basket the oriole calls in delicious melody. 



Aug. 24 What peculiarly attractive birds the wax- wings are! 

 TKey sit quietly and in so polite a manner that you may examine 

 their neat and polished appearance. They have exactly the same 

 taste in dress as the high-class Japanese, exquisite grays with a 

 rose tinge, lovely browns with the sunshine almost coming through, 



a spot of red, a touch of yellow. Every year a colony nests in the 



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