Music of the Wild 



enemies stealing up to destroj' it. I did not enter 

 the thicket again, so its fate is unknown. But 

 that a vireo and a finch should be homing in such 

 a lAace proves how universally birds as well as 

 flowers are distributed. Brilliant color attracts 

 bird and insect musicians not only to the water's 

 edge, but over it to the depth of the longest white 

 Avater lilj^ stem, Avhich ranges from three feet to 

 a specimen I once pulled that was sixteen. 



The five typical flowers growing in the water 

 at the outer edge of all other vegetation are the 

 Water arrowhead lily, blue flag, yellow lily, water hya- 

 Flowers (.j,j|-]j^ white Water lily, and differing members of 

 their families. They are all beautiful plants of 

 fine leaf and exquisite bloom; and there are some 

 who will 25refer one, and some another. ]My choice 

 is the arrowhead, not only of marsh flowers, but 

 among any; it ranks well toAvard first with me. 



I love a red flower in the fields; it appears so 

 vital, so full of life, it excites the imagination and 

 warms the cockles of the heart; for red is love's 

 own color. A red flower or fruit or leaf appears 

 to be a consummation of something worth while; 

 tlie fields have done a perfect M'ork, now I must 

 busy myself and produce results to prove what I 

 am attempting. Any day my faith weakens, a bed 

 of foxfire or cardinal flower waving salutation can 

 renew my courage and urge me on with fresh zeal; 

 and if a cardinal bird just then comes winging 



382 



