28 IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 



lie could. He had guided his family safely out 

 of their imprisoning four walls, I was sure. 

 And so I found it when I went out. Not a 

 wren to be seen about the house, but soft little 

 " ehurs " coming from here and there among the 

 shrubbery, and every few minutes a loud, happy 

 song proclaimed that wren troubles were over 

 for the summer. Far in among the tangle of 

 bushes and vines, I came upon him, as gay as he 

 had been of yore : 



" Pausing- and peering-, with sidling head, 

 As saucily questioning all I said ; 

 While the ox-eye danced on its slender stem, 

 And all glad Nature rejoiced with them." 



The chewink is a curious exchange for the 

 robin. When I noticed the absence of the red- 

 breast, whom like the poor we have always 

 with us (at the East), I was pleased, in spite of 

 my fondness for him, because, as every one mu'st 

 allow, he is sometimes officious in his attentions, 

 and not at all reticent in expressing his opin- 

 ions. I did miss his voice in the morning 

 chorus, the one who lived in the grove was not 

 much of a singer, but I was glad to know the 

 chewink, who was almost a stranger. His pe- 

 culiar trilling song was heard from morning till 

 night ; he came familiarly about the camp, eat- 

 ing from the dog's dish, and foraging for crumbs 

 at the kitchen door. Next to the wood-pewee, 



