GRAY DAYS AND MERRY WAYS 



no doubt addressed to the English sparrows, with 

 whom they mingle freely throughout the entire 

 season. Here, at least, we have a successful 

 socialistic blending of plebeians and patricians. 



I hear a plaintive sound from the river-side re- 

 gion the meadow-lark's minor notes. The little 

 touch of melancholy harmonizes well with the 

 mood of this gray day ; but it is offset by the sight 

 of this handsome sapsucker, not an every-day 

 guest at this season. He is investigating an apple- 

 tree in the poultry yard. I wonder if he has taken 

 note of Theodore, the magnificent white turkey 

 who was appointed to grace the festal board on 

 Thanksgiving day. You see the proud fellow 

 over in yonder sheltered portion of the yard. Is 

 he not the personification of haughty scorn, as, 

 with arrogantly spread tail, stiffly lowered wings, 

 and neck arched until his bill is almost buried in 

 his beautiful tassel, he proudly stalks around 

 among the awe-stricken fowls and hisses out his 

 disapproval of them all. His death-warrant was 

 signed two or three days ago, but at the moment 

 when the proud head was to have been laid low, 

 the executioner, his heart softened by the creat- 

 ure's extraordinary beauty, begged for a reprieve 

 and suggested a substitute. And thus it comes to 



[67] 



