CHAPTER XXX 



SMALL BIRD TALK 



ODD HOME OF A FOREST KING SCARLET TANAGER*S FOOD AND 

 SONG BLUEBIRDS, ROBINS, NUTHATCHES, ORIOLES, OVEN- 

 BIRDS, HUMMINGBIRDS AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS FROM 



THE AUTHOR'S NOTE BOOKS AND SKETCH BOOKS. 



A MODEST FOREST KING AND HIS PEOPLE. 



Upon the west shore of Big 

 Tink, well up toward the inlet 

 and not far from the sand spring, 

 a burnt hemlock and a leaning 

 chestnut mark the location of a 

 little cove. 



With its many toes of knotted 

 roots tightly clasping the blue 

 stone of the rocky shore there was a dwarf alder. 



In its desperate efforts to escape the benumbing 

 effects of the cold shadow of the dark forest the 

 alder reached as far out over the water as its 

 strength permitted. 



But for the firm grip with which its roots 

 clasped the rocks, the plucky plant would have 

 measured its length in the water of Big Tink. 

 If the alder's struggles had no higher aim than 

 510 



