ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 



Refuge 



(The Bird Sanctuary at Cornish, N. H.) 



Every wild wing of the hunted, the harried. 

 Every fleet foot of the stalked, the pursued, 

 Every bright eye of the fearful, the followed. 

 Solace may find in this blithe solitude. 

 Here the wings fold by the peace of the water, 

 Here the feet pause in the woodland's deep calm. 

 Here the eye rests ; for the woods and the waters, 

 Friendly and welcoming, offer their balm. 



Where the trees dip to the wide placid water. 

 Where the reeds bend to the stately slow tide, 

 Where the moon rises o'er leagues of dim woodland, 

 Glimmering greenly- — -here may they abide. 

 Hither they speed over moorland and mountain, 

 Wary and valiant, far-sighted and brave ; 

 Hither they come at the call of compassion, 

 Here may they rest in the wood, on the wave. 



Beautiful wings of the air and the river. 

 Wonderful eyes of the forest and glade, 

 Marvelous voices a-tune with the dawn- wind, 

 Welcome, ah, welcome, to sun and to shade ! 

 Here you may have the desired, the cherished — 

 Only the longing in freedom to live — 

 Here in this happy place stayed is the hand of man, 

 Opened the heart of man — refuge to give ! 



— Archibald Rutledge in the Outlook. 



