Riley's Gift of Bird Song 



Anxie Smith Xixmax 

 Peoria, 111. 



October seventh, the anniversary 

 of the birth of the children's poet, 

 James Whitcomb Riley, is a day of 

 interest in the school curricula, for 

 on that day children in all the 

 schools, pause in restive mood, to 

 enjoy the poet's songs of nature's 

 recurring pleasures ; the gift of flower 

 and sunset cloud; of bird and blue 

 expanse of water. 



The poems of Riley awaken with- 

 in the hearts of children a greater 

 love for nature, for life, for birds 

 and all growing things. To Riley, 

 nature was the very epitome of all 

 that is harmonious in life. His verses 

 of bird song, of sunshine-sky, of rip- 

 pling waters attune all attributes 

 of nature that make for enjoyment, 

 such attributes as truth, love, faith, appreciation and inspiration. 



"With head uncovered has he stood, 

 Hearing the spirit of the wood 

 Hearing aright the Master speak 

 In trill of bird. . . ." 



On days that are dreary, we may listen to the worded songs of 



the feathered friends that Riley has listened to and believed 



in. . . "the songs that nature sings — in every bird that 



twitters." 



"There's the song of the lark, when the skies are clear, 

 And the song of the thrush, when the skies are gray." 



"And in and out when the eaves drip rain, 

 The swallows are twittering ceaselessly." 



If there is to be found bird song in the rain, then there is laughter 

 and chatter and melody when the golden sunshine is even.- where, 

 in woods, in fields and pastures green. Riley has said that — 

 "The robin pipes when the sun is here" 

 :V27 



"The flash of the red bird's 

 wings" 



