258 VIRGINIA 



to-day), and a rose-breast began warbling. 

 It seemed a tender story, — sweetness beyond 

 words, and happiness without a shadow. 

 From a second point, a little farther on, the 

 entire southern horizon came into view, with 

 both the Peaks of Otter visible; a truly 

 enchanting picture, the sky full of sunlight 

 and floating white clouds. 



In a treetop behind me a cerulean warbler 

 had been singing, but flew away as I turned 

 about. My only sight of him was on the 

 wing, a mere speck in the air. Afterward a 

 parula gave out his tune, running the notes 

 straight upward and snapping them off at 

 the end in whiplash fashion, as much as to 

 say, " Now see if you can tell the difference." 

 And then, just as I was ready to leave the 

 grove, stepping along a footpath through a 

 bramble patch, I descried almost at my feet 

 a warbler, — a female by her look and de- 

 meanor, and a stranger ; blue and white, 

 with dark streakings along the sides. I lost 

 her soon ; but she had seemed to be lookins: 

 for nest materials, and of course I waited for 

 her to return. This she presently did, and 

 now I saw her strip bits of bark from plant 

 stems till she had her bill full of short pieces. 



