114 WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIEDS. 



the teens and I had fallen into a dreamy mood in which I 

 was permitting the spring to go by, without noting its flight, 

 when I was suddenly roused one May morning by a most 

 curious and unexpected incident. 



I had gone into the garden summer-house with my book 

 as the excuse, but dreaming as usual, without noticing the 

 letters on its pages, when a soft, whirring noise, close to my 

 face, caused me to look up. About one foot from me a 

 Humming Bird, poised so steadily upon the wing that its 

 body seemed perfectly motionless, looked with its bright, 

 knowing eye fixedly into mine. It did not move when I 

 lifted my head, and retaining this position for nearly a quar- 

 ter of a minute, with a low chirp darted out and settled on 

 some flowers near to trim its plumes. I started up, while a 

 quick thought sent a thrill of exquisite pleasure through my 

 whole frame. The bird sat still. I ran with my utmost 

 speed to the house, and, catching a glimpse of my sister, 

 cried out to her, almost beside myself with excitement 



" Get the white cup ! Get our cup ! some honey ! some 

 sugar ! here's the water ! quick dear ! quick ! for heaven's 

 sake !" 



" What is the matter with you, brother ?" exclaimed the 

 distracted child, endeavoring at the same time to execute 

 these multifarious orders all at once. 



" O, our bird's come back ! I saw him just now ! Where 

 are the closet keys ? 0, he's come, back to us all the way 

 from South America- the little darling ! I thought he 

 couldn't forget us 1" 



" But, brother, you are mad how can you tell it from an- 

 other Humming Bird I've seen a dozen this spring !" 



" Oh ! I know it was one of the young ones he came in 

 and looked me in the eyes ever so long ! Do make haste !" 



The mixture is completed and off we run in trembling 

 eagerness for this test we knew would decide for or against 

 us. We reach the summer-house the magical white cup is 

 raised before us, it is still sitting on the flower, we give one 



