The Wild Geese of Wyndygoul 
months they were big almost as the old ones, and 
fairly fledged; at four their wings were grown; 
their voices still were small and thin, they had not 
got the trumpet note, but seemed the mother’s 
counterparts in all things else. Then they began 
to feel their wings, and take short flights across 
the lake. As their wings grew strong their voices 
deepened, till the trumpet note was theirs, and the 
thing I had dreamed of came about: a wild goose 
band that flew and bugled in the air, and yet came 
back to their home water that was also mine. 
Stronger they grew, and long and high their flights. 
Then came the moon of falling leaves, and with 
its waning flocks of small birds flew, and in the 
higher sky the old loud clang was heard. Down 
from the north they came, the arrow-heads of 
geese. All kinsmen these, and that ahead without 
a doubt the mother of the rest. 
THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT 
The Wild Geese on my lake turned up their 
eyes and answered back, and lined up on the lake. 
Their mother led the way and they whispered all 
along the line. Their mother gave the word, 
swimming fast and faster, then quacked, then 
called, and then their voices rose to give the 
“honk”; the broad wings spread a little, while they 
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