68 STARLIGHT AND SUNSHINE. 



from heaven through the maple-tree above us. "You are weary: 

 we see it: listen to me: meekly: cheery are we: O why is it: 

 verily verily : this is it: holy spirit: devotee: verily verily : there 

 we owe it: believe me: 'tis real: we know it: Selah /" 



It is the voice of the "preacher" celebrating his matins in his 

 temple of the tree-top, and filling the morning with unremitting 

 praise and counsel the most sustained and tireless song, and the 

 most communicative voice among all our birds. No other one 

 of them speaks so clearly in our own tongue, or seems so much 

 to imply a listener. As will be seen, the song is not a rapid, 

 elusive warble. It is a deliberate, continuous recitative rather 

 than a song, each phrase followed by a distinct pause, and each 

 pause seeming to formulate with an oracular effect the brief pas- 

 sage which follows, all of which are variously accented and full 

 of variety of inflection, as I have endeavored to indicate. 



Often have I sat by the hour beneath his shrine, and long is 

 the list of mellifluous exclamations, exhortations, texts, and pre- 

 cepts which I have caught from his votive throat. On one occa- 

 sion alone I filled my page, and though he had been in continu- 

 ous song for exactly three-quarters of an hour, I left him ere he 

 had reached his " secondly." 



Bringing my testimony to date, I can add furthermore that 

 during last July, subsequent to the writing of the above in a 

 magazine article, he surpassed himself in eloquence. At that 

 time I occupied my summer studio in the woods. He had me 

 at an advantage and did most commendable missionary work. 

 On one particular morning, at nine o'clock, he greeted me with 

 his "listen to me" and "there we owe it"; and having thus 

 voiced his theme, preached without ceasing until half-past twelve, 

 at which hour, when I left for luncheon, he was yet undiminished 

 in unction, and apparently no nearer the benediction than when 

 he announced his text. 



I have said that he speaks the human tongue, and in partial 

 proof thereof I may mention that long before I knew of our 

 red-eyed vireo's title of "Preacher" given, I believe, by Wilson 

 Fla gg I Had noted down the "you know it " and "you see it" 



