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A'or.. !) March, 1913. Xo. 3 



The Son^ Sparrow* 



Henry Van Dyke. 



There is a bird I know so well, 



It seems as if he must have sung 



Beside my crib when I was young; 



Before I knew the way to spell 



The name of even the smallest bird 



His gentle-joyful song I heard. 



Now see if you can tell, my dear. 



What bird it is that, every year, 



Sings ''Sweet — sweet — sweet— very merry cheer.' 



He comes in March, when winds are strong. 



And snow returns to hide the earth ; 



But still he warms his heart with mirth, 



And waits for May. He lingers long 



While flowers fade; and every day 



Repeats his small, contented lay; 



As if to say, we need not fear 



The season's change, if love is here 



With ''Sweet — sweet — sweet — very merry cheer." 



He does not wear a Jacob's coat 

 Of many colors, smart and gay; 

 His suit is quaker brown and gray. 

 With dark patches at the throat. 



'From John Burrough's Songs of Nature. McClure, Phillips & Co. 



65 



