THE CHICKADEE 



91 



CHICKADEE 



" THEN piped a tiny voice hard by, 

 Gay and polite, a cheerful cry, 

 Chick-a-dee-dee ! saucy note 

 Out of sound heart and merry throat 

 As if it said, Good day, good sir ! 

 Fine afternoon, old passenger ! 

 Happy to meet you in these places 

 Where January brings few faces." 



RALPH WALDO EMERSON. 



