BOYHOOD AND BIRDS. 59 



before their numerous visitors. He was a good old man, and 

 she the most loving of gentle wives peace to their souls ! I 

 believe the strawberries will grow spontaneously on their 

 graves who nourished them so well, and the mocking birds, 

 drawn by some " sweet compulsion," go there to sing, while 

 flowers that were their chosen loves, will sure creep close, to 

 fill the place with odors. 



I did not hear of this incident till some five or six years 

 after its occurrence, and then it was called up by my recital 

 to the old man of an adventure of my own, a short time be- 

 fore, which was nearly as ridiculous as this, and resembling it 

 in many essential features. It was my first meeting with the 

 mocking bird, too ! 



I was now a stout youth of sixteen, yet I had never seen 

 the mocking bird ; though, of course, I had read and heard 

 with eagerness much about it. I knew all the birds around 

 me so well, that I could detect the presence of a stranger 

 among them as readily as I should have noticed a sixth fin- 

 ger or toe, which had suddenly been added to my worldly gifts. 



I was gunning one day, in a rich meadow, on which stood 

 scattered many very tall trees. I observed above the top- 

 most bough of one of these, a strange bird alighting as if he 

 - was afraid it would burn his toes. He would just touch a 

 twig, while with wings wide spread, and then bound un 

 again hovering doubtfully over it, but with a movement so 

 airy that I could scarcely believe it a substantial creature. 

 As it thus fluttered and floated lightly with its front towards 

 me, it seemed all white, a rich, soft, creamy white from 

 throat to tip of the long tail-feathers ; but, now, in restless 

 motion it turns its dark back, and I can see across each 

 wide-spread wing the white bar in singular, sudden con' rast. 



It seemed to me a thing from dream-land so indescribably 

 spiritudle was the grace of every movement ! I could only 

 form a remote conjecture as to what the bird really was, for it 

 proved so exceedingly wary and shy, that I found it impos- 

 sible to approach any nearer. It was not until my patience 



