The Witchery of Winter 91 



There is a pretty outlook at the edge of 

 the woods, and never more attractive than 

 when the snow lightly covers the grass, and 

 every tall rush and sedge and berry-laden 

 bush stands forth in greater beauty because 

 of the glistening background ; and here, red 

 as our brightest berry, the cardinal shone 

 on the bare twigs as the gayest midsummer 

 blossom. Now here is wealth sufficient for 

 any rambler's needs, and greater would prove 

 an embarrassment. There can be too many 

 birds at one time, as witness the warblers on 

 May-day. You are easily lost in a crowd, 

 but what is more charming than a quiet chat 

 with a friend ? My crested tit had left me, 

 but here was the kinglet still, and now a 

 sprightly cardinal had come. He, too, is 

 most excellent company, but how seldom 

 disposed to be confiding ! The safety of a 

 thicket must ever be at hand and never an 

 instant that his eyes are not upon you. It 

 is very humiliating, but though our meetings 

 are always marred in this way, there is still 

 abundant pleasure in them. To-day the 

 cardinal whistled a wild note that ought to 

 have waked the echoes in the sleepy hills, 

 a clear, fife-like call, as if it would rouse the 



