A BIRD ANTHOLOGY PROM LOWELL. 25 I 



If one were only there to see : — 



" High flaps in sparkling blue the far-heard crow, 

 The silvered flats gleam frostily below ; 



Suddenly drops the gull, and breaks the glassy tide." 



Of course even the casual observer has often 

 been aware of the fact that " the robin is plastering 

 his house hard by j " and many of us may have 

 looked upon a winter scene like the following, but 

 I am sure we never thought of painting it in just 

 such tropical colors, — 



" The river was numb, and could not speak, 

 For the weaver Winter its shroud had spun ; 

 A single crow on the tree-top bleak 

 From his shining feathers shed off the cold sun." 



Hosea Biglow seems to think he knows where 

 to find 



" Some blooms thet make the season suit the mind. 

 An' seem to match the doubting bluebird's notes," 



liverworts and bloodroots being among those taUs- 

 manic plants. There is a world of serenity in the 

 following metrical etching, which makes one almost 

 long to die and be forever at rest : — 



" Happy their end 

 Who vanish down life's evening stream 

 Placid as swans that drift in dream 

 Round the next river-bend." 



Our poet had the charming habit of making some 

 characteristic bird-way do deft metaphorical duty in 



