THE LOOSING OF THE FETTERS 



land where stunted trees break the dreary monot- 

 ony of barren fields, and the sun shines far into 

 the short night of a brief, unproductive summer. 



That beautiful joyous carol, the bluebird's 

 warble, is another expression of the delight in- 

 spired by the gentle influences of the day. The 

 song-sparrows, who have perhaps been with us 

 unnoticed throughout the entire winter, now rav- 

 ish our ears and gladden our hearts as they carol 

 out their joy in the beautiful time of promise. 



And there is Chanticleer adding his loud, em- 

 phatic testimony to that of all the other creatures 

 who are proclaiming the fact that winter's reign 

 is almost over. His wives are clucking and mut- 

 tering in their usual discontented and uncertain 

 manner. It may be their way of expressing satis- 

 faction, but to me there is nothing but anxiety 

 and suspicion in the ordinary tones of a hen. 

 Quite different is it when she soothingly talks to 

 her little ones at bedtime or animatedly and en- 

 ticingly summons them to some choice tid-bit of 

 her own discovering, or fussily and noisily pro- 

 claims to the world that she has contributed an 

 egg to its treasures. 



But in the crowing of a cock there is a cheery, 

 friendly ring, though it may be a trifle too posi- 



