A PLEA FOR THE UNPROTECTED 



why not let the poor fellow go ? If you 

 dropped hirn back into the marsh to 

 rot unprofitably there, disdained even by 

 the mink, unattainable to the scavenger 

 skunk, what good would it do you ? If 

 he disappointed you, you disturbed him 

 in his meditations, or in the pursuit of 

 a poor but honest living. Perhaps a 

 great heron too intent on his fishing 

 or frogging, or dozing in the fancied se- 

 clusion of his reedy bower, springs up 

 within short range and goes lagging 

 away on his broad vans. He may be 

 taken home to show, for he is worth 

 showing even when killed. But if you 

 wish your friends to see him at his best, 

 bring them to him and let them see how 

 well he befits these sedgy levels — a 

 goodly sight, whether he makes his lazy 

 flight above them or stands a motion- 

 less sentinel in the oozy shallows. The 

 marshes would be desolate without him, 

 or if one desires the charm of loneliness, 

 his silent presence adds to it. 



A kingfisher comes clattering along 



the channel. As he jerks his swift way 



over the sluggish water he may test 



your marksmanship, but as he hangs 



149 



