The Birds and Poets 17 



Lowell, in his beautiful lines "To the Dande- 

 lion," recalls the robin of his childhood: 



"The sight of thee calls back the robin's song, 



Who from the dark old tree 

 Beside the door sang clearly all day long, 



And I, secure in childish piety. 

 Listened as if I heard an angel sing 



With news from heaven, which he could bring 

 Fresh every day to my untainted ears 



When birds and flowers and I were happy peers." 



Stedman gives high praise to the early spring 

 notes of the robin: 



"The sweetest sound our whole year round — 

 'Tis the first robin of the spring! 

 The song of the full orchard choir 

 Is not so fine a thing." 



He is loved by Wm. W. Caldwell as the har- 

 binger of spring: 



"From the elm-tree's topmost bough. 

 Hark! the Robin's early songl 

 Telling one and all that now 

 Merry spring time hastes along; 

 Welcome tidings dost thou bring. 

 Little harbinger of spring, 



Robin's come I" 



He means renewed faith for Charles G. D. 

 Roberts : 



