4 WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIKDS. 



reckless to the last, comes garrulous, chattering down, and 

 dips upon an island pebble ; and Bobby Linkum, with his 

 amorous song shivered into silvery quavers, comes eagerly 

 hurrying after, and dashes up the spray, like as not, amid- 

 stream ; the Indigo Bird darts in, and the Sparrows skip 

 chirpingly over the curled last-winter leaves; the yellow- 

 eyed Thrush, with long bounds and drooping wings, splashes 

 plump into the water; the Cat Bird, with faint purr, glides 

 meekly down ; the Elfin Mocker, even, silent now and pant- 

 ing, half-spreading its white-barred wings with every hop, 

 follows the rest ; with low chirrup and quick pattering feet, 

 the dusky-dotted Partridge hurries in; now see them one 

 and all dip their thirsty bills into the cool ripples a single 

 drop, then each is upturned towards heaven, and softest eyes 

 look the mute eloquence of thanks. 



Down they all go again anothei drop up they rise to- 

 gether, pointing toward the home of God, gesticulating 

 praises while they take his gifts. 



Beautiful worshippers ! Lovely and fitting temple of the 

 Most High ! your shady places have been hallowed by those 

 simple prayers. That inarticulate incense, like 1 the invisible 

 aroma of hill-side violets, has ascended gratefully to heaven ! 



Ye human Formalists, who, to the alarm of chimes, go on 

 your knees to mumble the set forms of praise ! what is your 

 faith compared to these ? 



Would that ye would read this Elder Bible more its 

 wide, miraculous pages have many a sentient chapter such 

 as this, where all the breathing is of love ! Turn aside to 

 look upon them with a calm regard ; who knows but that 

 the light abiding with these gentle things, may find its way 

 through the hard crust of cant, and wake to flowering some 

 genial place beside thy heart. 



Ye are not all ossified brain, sense and heart even down 

 to that altar of the belly gods within you! Be of good 

 cheer, and not affrighted because of great black-letter Tomes, 

 God's Commentary on his written Revelation was given first 



