28 IN WINTER. 



bird- world ! While it is true that birds of a 

 feather flock together, it is equally so that widely 

 different species also amicably associate, and 

 flagrant is the act that calls for punishment. 

 Better luck next time is the homely proverb that 

 actuates all non-predatorial bird life. 



But the merit of birds is their suggestiveness. 

 Promptly following the nuthatches came the 

 ever-welcome song-sparrow. It hopped, with 

 springtide liveliness, among the dead leaves near 

 the brook, and then, flying to a hazel bush near 

 by, it sang that sweet song that not even the 

 mocking-bird ventures to repeat. The woods 

 vanished, and the old garden with its gooseberry 

 hedge was before me. I was a wondering child 

 again, listening and looking at the happy bird, 

 happy as itself. 



It is December, the day is cold, the trees are 

 leafless, the ground frozen ; but not a thought of 

 all this had clouded my joy for half a day. 

 There is the elixir of perpetual summer even in 

 the woods in winter, and happy is he who can 

 find it. 



