nearer. He would not descend. So I chased 

 him, stoning and mocking him even, till, at last, 

 he came down to the bushes and showed me his 

 big blue head, white eye-rings, wing-bars, and 

 yellow- washed sides. 



He did more than show himself: he sang for 

 me. Within ten feet of me, he began a quiet 

 little warble of a tenderness and contentment I 





\ 



" It was a love-song." 



never heard before. Such variety of notes, such 

 sweetness of melody, such easy, unconscious ren- 

 dering ! It was a love-song, but sung all to 

 himself, for he knew that there was no gentle 

 heart to listen this side of Virginia. He sang to 

 [156] 



