602 SELECTIONS FROM ADDRESSES. 



lieved from immediate duty, there "comes a frost, a killing 

 frost," like a straggler from the rear guard of a retreating army, 

 taking a last shot. Then arrive catterpillar, canker and cut- 

 worm, bugs " too numerous to mention," every genus and 

 specits that can crawl or fly, amateurs of various tastes, but 

 uniform appetite, hastening to appropriate whatever portion of 

 the banquet may best suit each particular palate, as though the 

 sole object of planting was to set a table for their special ac- 

 commodation. As regards these numerous families of visitors, 

 which appear yearly to increase, the only alternative left may 

 be suggested by quoting the brief, but comprehensive and very 

 intelligible address of a colonel to his regiment, when leading 

 it into action, "there's the enemy; if you don't kill them> 

 they'll kill you." 



It is believed that these devastators augment in numbers as 

 the birds diminish, and that it would be well to have patience 

 with the latter in cherry time, and let them pick even more 

 than their fair share, in consideration of the good service they 

 render us. On the score of prudence, it may be questioned 

 whether it is not equally economical to lose part of the fruit, 

 as to endanger the whole tree by grafting lead into every limb. 

 Hostility is declared against birds of such tameness and confi- 

 dence that they build their nests on the boughs which over- 

 hang our houses, make their home in our gardens, and seem to 

 claim from man companionship and protection. Persecution, 

 which, directed against them, looks very much like civil war 

 or family quarrel, does not destroy their trusting nature. They 

 cannot be driven from human society, but return with the 

 spring to the old familiar places, appealing to our kindness and 

 forbearance. An agricultural writer,* to whom Massachusetts 

 is much indebted, once intimated that a young child would 

 not be quite safe with a man who could shoot these gentle 

 creatures. He, doubtless, felt such an act to be a violation of 

 the sacred duty of hospitality, a desecration of the hearth-stone 

 which assimilated it to murder. There are beautiful supersti- 

 tions all over the world, which most effectually protect certain 

 birds. They are sometimes founded on utility, but more fre- 



*The laic Henry Column. 



