BIRD PARADISE 237 



Looking up I saw an eagle high in the air, mov- 

 ing toward the north. With what grace and 

 strength he moved, denizen of the earth, and yet 

 free to command and use his little ship of state. 

 I watched him until he hung a mere speck far 

 over toward Oneida Lake. Now and then one of 

 these great birds strays into our hill country, but 

 their visits are few and far between. The 

 meadows of this hill are favorite resorts for the 

 meadow-larks. I never pass there in the nesting 

 months without hearing their song, and when the 

 young fellows are leaving the nest I often get a 

 view of the family training school, which is really 

 a house of more than seven gables. I have a 

 notion that the old Psalmist had something more 

 than the mere physical structure of the hill in 

 mind when he wrote : "I will lift up mine eyes 

 unto the hills, from whence oometh my help." 

 Why not, all the life of the hill, — one common 

 heart in it all. 



Occasionally I see a flock of the goldfinches, 

 all nicely transformed into real birds of the snow. 

 What a genuine bird's life they lead the entire 

 year through. At the height of the summer they 

 build their nests and rear their families. Then 

 they sing and give praise with the best member 



