BIRD PARADISE 227 



is more alive or more sure of a liearing. The 

 winter stream, with its crystal ornaments, ap- 

 peals to all the best in all other hearts. Those 

 smooth stones in the channel, thrown together as 

 they are, never seem irregular or out of place. 

 Every sound of the stream murmurs with a winter 

 tone and the deeper pools flash out to the waiting 

 parson visions of victories where the water re- 

 joices. Ah, how much there is that is good in 

 the brook, that goes on forever ! 



A little nuthatch from the swamp interviewed 

 me this week. He came in to my lawn trees 

 without any particular ceremony, and I noticed 

 seemed to regard the locality as a part at least 

 of his home. One of the distinguishing charac- 

 teristics of our birds is the manner in which they 

 enjoy their privileges in Mother Nature's great 

 house. All their movements indicate the owner- 

 ship in fee simple of the entire domain around 

 them. How easily they accomplish it all. They 

 all own it together and all enjoy it together. 

 "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" in 

 their own house and in their own way — their 

 declaration of independence reads that way, and 

 they behave that way. My visitor went about 



