THE LOOSING OF THE FETTERS 



while nut-hatches, j uncos, chickadees, white- 

 throated and white-crowned sparrows in fact, 

 nearly all the birds we saw during our January 

 walk are still here. But there is in their twit- 

 terings and notes and songs something that we 

 did not hear on that beautiful frosty day. 

 " There is a mystery in the air some great con- 

 certed movement on hand." 



" Something's coming. Something's coming. 

 We feel it, we know it," they call and chirp and 

 sing and twitter. 



" What is it, what is it? " I ask, eagerly. 



And one small voice makes answer: 



" Chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee. You'll soon 

 see-see-see-see-see." 



