V. 



THE "WISE BLUEBIRD.'' 



"A wise bluebird 

 Puts in his little heavenly word." 



THE characteristic air and expression of the 

 bluebird, and his enchanting little warble, could 

 not be better described in a page of writing than 

 the poet has here done in a couplet. 



Who has not seen him in his favorite resting- 

 place, the lowest branch of an apple-tree, stand- 

 ing up very straight, crown feathers erected, 

 honest little countenance squarely facing one, 

 motionless and silent, looking the embodiment 

 of wisdom ! 



A pair of bluebirds lived in my house for 

 nearly a year, and the calm, imposing manner 

 of the male I have never seen disturbed. In 

 the presence of birds much larger than himself 

 he never lost his equanimity, paid not the 

 slightest attention to any one, went about his 

 daily duties and pleasures exactly as though 

 there were not another bird, except his mate, 



