Sparrow, Song 



The Myth of the Song Sparrow 



His mother was the Brook, his sisters were the Reeds, 

 And they every one applauded when he sang about his 



deeds. 

 His vest was white, his mantle brown, as clear as they could 



be, 

 And his songs were fairly bubbling o'er with melody and 



glee. 

 But*an envious Neighbor splashed with mud our Brownie's 



coat and vest, 



And then a final handful threw that stuck upon his breast. 

 The Brook-bird's mother did her best to wash the stains 



away, 

 But there they stuck, and, as it seems, are very like to 



stay, 

 And so he wears the splashes and the mud blotch as you 



see, 



But his songs are bubbling over still with melody and glee. 



ERNEST THOMPSON SETON. 



"Wood Myth and Fable. "Century Company, 1905. 

 This poem is printed by special permission of the author. 



SPARROW, TREE 



Tree sparrows wear a small black dot on the center of 

 their otherwise unmarked breasts, a badge which will 

 aid in their identification. 



I like to see them feasting on the seed stalks above 

 the crust, and to hear their chorus of merry, tinkling notes, 

 like sparkling frost crystals turned to music. Too-la-it, 

 too-la-ti, each one calls. 



CHAPMAN. Handbook of Birds. 21 



139 



