ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 



17 



"There is 

 nothing more 

 exquisite in the 

 realm of na- 

 ture than a 

 bird's nest 

 with its cluster 

 of dainty ovals, 

 each full of si- 

 lent music, 

 each dumb 

 miracle wait- 

 ing for the fin- 

 ger of God to 

 awaken, to be 

 alive and fill 

 the air with 

 blissful 

 sound." 



Celia Thaxter. 



From "The Isle of 

 Shoals" 



Give to me the gospel of the fields and woods, 



The sermon written in the book of books: 



The sweet communion of the things of earth 



Fresh with the warm baptism of the sun : 



Give me the perfect offertory of bud and bloom, 



The perfect carolings of happy birds : 



Give me the creed of one of God's fair days 



Wrought in the beauty of its loveliness : 



And then the benediction of the stars 



His eloquent ministers of the night." 



