OUR COUNTRY LIFE 



in lavish profusion from crimson stems. Cutting 

 off the larger leaves and keeping the vines confined to 

 the timbers of the house seems to increase the quantity 

 and size of these berries. And how the birds enjoy 

 them! Magnolia warblers perch on a swinging stalk 

 and with lively motions of their slender bodies eat 

 their fill. 



What a happy six weeks those visiting robins had! 

 They feasted until they were as fat as pigeons; they 

 were on guard from the pergola way around to the 

 south terrace; they even drove away the belligerent 

 blue jays and suffered only the magnolia warblers and 

 the hermit thrushes to share their daily repasts. By 

 and by the Hercules Club berries did turn blue and 

 for each one a robin stood expectant on the linden tree 

 hard by. They voiced their thanks in lovely spring- 

 like chirruping and vied with the song sparrows 

 in the cool twilight. 



How they love the fountain in the formal garden! 

 In the chill air of late September a robin often 

 alights on the still waters of the Roman tazza, gazes 



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