2 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



tell of gentle emotion, to soothe or to persuade ; 

 or when, raised into powerful energy, tliey flow 

 in torrents of eloquence. And the singing of 

 birds, how sweet is it to the listening ear ! These 

 joyous creatures seem made to render the wood- 

 land, or the quitt meadow, or the stream side, a 

 scene of repose and recreation from the toils and 

 cares of human life. The "beautiful description of 

 Spring, given by the sacred wTiter, is as applicable 

 to our country as to Palestine. '* The winter is 

 ])ast, the rain is over and gone ; the tlowers appear 

 on the earth, the time for the singing of birds is 

 come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our 

 land." We listen to the song with wcaider. AVe 

 know that no human instrument can attain tli« 

 compass of tliat strain, or catch the tones of tliat 

 sweet, but irregular melody ; that were we to 

 measure our vocal |)ower8 with those of the little 

 bird, our voice would be lost in the woodland, 

 which echoes tar and near wivh his music. Like 

 all the sounds of Nature, it has its variations, 

 telling sometimes of joy and gladness, and anon 

 seeming, as it is uttered in the minor key, so 

 plaintive and tender, that we can only compare it 

 to the wailing wind, or to the touching lament of 



