NATURE'S CHOIR. 77 



chasing the hen attracts the attention of all 

 interested in bird life. I have always felt, on 

 hearing a Lark singing in a cage hung from 

 the window in a smoky town, that it was the 

 cry of a prisoner who longed for the green 

 fields and blue vault of heaven. 



" Who can divine what impulses from God 



Reached the caged Skylark, within a town abode, 

 From his poor inch or two of daisied sod ? 

 O, yield him back his privilege ! " 



But there is another side, so well put in verse 

 by Joseph Wright : 



" Gin I could ope the door to thee, 

 Ye wadna lang imprisoned be ; 

 But far awa' frae here wad flee 



On whirring wing, 

 And high abune yon gowan lea 



Wad sweetly sing. 



But whaur ye are there's hearts tae cheer ; 

 Puir folks hemmed in frae year to year, 

 Whose lives are hard an' unco drear, 



They need yer sang ; 

 To wish ye far awa' frae here 



Is maybe wrang." 



After the Lark's song, the soft, simple warble 



