THE CROW 



advance of its banners, proclaiming 

 spring. 



It is the first audible promise of the 

 longed-for season, and it heartens us, 

 though there be weary days of waiting 

 for its fulfillment, while the bold herald 

 is beset by storm and pinched with hun- 

 ger as he holds his outpost and gleans 

 his scant rations in the winter-desolated 

 land. 



He finds some friendliness in nature 

 even now. Though her forces assail him 

 with relentless fury, she gives him here 

 the shelter of her evergreen tents, in 

 windless depths of woodland ; bares for 

 him there a rood of sward or stubble 

 whereon to find some crumb of comfort ; 

 leaves for him ungathered apples on the 

 naked boughs, and on the unpruned 

 tangles of vines wild grapes, — poor 

 raisins of the frost, — the remnants of 

 autumnal feasts of the robins and par- 

 tridges. 



Thankful now for such meagre fare 

 and eager for the fullness of disgusting 

 repasts, in the bounty of other seasons, 

 he becomes an epicure whom only the 

 choicest food will satisfy. He has the 

 i8 



