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AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



SPRING'S OPENING DAY. 



FRANCES PERHAM CARSON. 



"Awake, awake, ye sleepy heads, 

 Awake, and from your garden beds 

 Your winter coverings quickly fling," 

 So Robin Red began to sing. 

 "Up, up, and robe in bright array. 

 To celebrate Spring's Opening Day, 

 For I am herald sent to say 

 That Spring, sweet Spring is on her way." 



Soon from a neighb'ring flower bed 

 A jaunty Tulip raised her head, 

 And, smiling up at Robin Red, 

 "I'm glad you told me, sir," she said; 

 "And pray be sure you don't forget 

 To wake the blue-eyed Violet, 

 In arms of Mother Earth, the pet, 

 I think she must be slumb'ring yet." 



"Nay, nay, not so," a sweet voice said. 

 Not far from Tulip's tumbled bed; 

 "Dear Tulip, you are tall and bright. 

 And naught can keep you out of sight, 

 While I, so low, can hide from view 

 My garb of green and eyes of blue. 

 And ere you had unclosed your eyes, 

 Mine had been lifted to the skies." 



"Hark! " said the pink-eyed Perwinkle, 



"Methought I heard a sleigh bell tinkle." 



"Ho! " laughed the Crocus, "Don't you know 



That sleighbells only come with snow? 



The diff'rence you can surely tell 



'Tween flowret's notes and shrill sleigh bell; 



The tiny Blue Bells always ring 



To welcome the first day of Spring." 



Down in a shady, sheltered spot, 

 There slept a sweet Forget-me-not, 

 Who opened wide her starry eyes. 

 Looked up and smiled in sweet surprise. 

 And said: "Ah, it has been so long 

 Since I have heard the Robin's song, 

 I yet can hardly make it seem 

 Of Springtime but a Winter's dream." 



