OUR FRIENDS, THE BIRDS. Se 
Laura said: “My aunt once told me that the Tit- 
mouse was Emerson’s favorite bird, and she taught me 
to recite some extracts from his poem entitled: 
THE TITMOUSE, 
Then piped a tiny voice hard by, 
Gay and polite, a cheerful cry, 
Chick-chickadee dee! saucy note 
Out of sound heart and merry throat, 
As if it said, Good day, good sir ! 
Fine afternoon, old passenger ! 
Happy to meet you in these places, 
Where January brings few faces. 
Here was this atom in full breath, 
Hurling defiance at vast death. 
This scrap of valor just for play 
Fronts the north wind in waistcoat gray, 
As if to shame my weak behavior; 
I greeted loud my little savior, 
‘You pet ! what dost here? and what for? 
In these woods, thy small Labrador, 
At this pinch wee San Salvador ! 
What fire burns in thy little chest 
So frolic stout and self-possest ? 
Henceforth I wear no stripe but thine 
Ashes and jet all hues outshine. 
* * * * ok ok ok * * * 
I think no virtue goes with size; 
The reason of all cowardice 
Is that men are overgrown, 
And, to be valiant, must come down 
To the Titmouse dimension. 
