THE INSPIRING SPARROWS. 39 



weather is near at hand, though we may have to 

 wait six weeks for it Such days are not sure to 

 come, but they generally do, and we are always 

 led astray by them ; and the foxie sparrows in the 

 greenbriers largely help us to our silly day-dreams 

 of the coming season. It is delightful fiction, never- 

 theless, and we thank the jolly crew of the green- 

 briers for their sham prophecy that spring is near at 

 hand. 



Nearly half a century ago I remember looking out 



Snow-bird. 



of the window and seeing the yard covered with 

 snow. The sun was shining at the time, and over 

 the glittering surface of yard, fences, and the low 

 box-bushes of the garden walk there were scores of 

 snow-birds that at times scattered the dry flakes in 

 high glee and to my infinite delight I was allowed 

 to toss handfuls of crumbs out of the window, and 

 then waited to see the birds come close to the house 

 and eat what I had thrown to them. It was my 



