52 TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL. 



THE LEGEND OF THE CROSSBILL. 



(From the German of Julius Mosen.) 



On the cross the dying Saviour 

 Heavenwards lifts His eyelids calm, 



Feels, but scarcely feels, a trembling 

 In His pierced, and bleeding, palm. 



And, by all the world forsaken. 



Sees He how with zealous care. 

 At the ruthless nail of iron, 



A little bird is striving there. 



Stained with blood, and never tiring. 

 With its beak it doth not cease ; 



From the cross 'twould free the Saviour, 

 Its Creator's Son release. 



And the Saviour speaks in mildness : 



" Blest be thou of all the good ! 

 Bear, as token of this moment, 



Marks of blood and Holy Rood ! " 



And that bird is called the Crossbill ; 



Covered all with blood so clear. 

 In the groves of pine it singeth 



Songs, like legends, strange to hear. 



In the same way the red breast of the Robin 

 is said to have been acquired, and the Red- 

 breast possesses this advantage over the Crossbill 

 in legendary history, that it does really occur in 

 the Holy Land, whereas the latter species is not, 

 as yet, known to visit that country. 



The Crossbills are birds of the pine-woods, 



