26o BIRD PARADISE 



I first looked out upon the scene there was just 

 enough light to show the sheen of white thrown 

 broadcast everywhere. The crown was put in 

 place just at sunrise. There were a few loose 

 clouds in the eastern sky, enough to lift the sun- 

 beams, as it were, giving each what seemed to be 

 a new power. The white was given a glimmer 

 like molten silver and with it colors appeared, 

 violet, pink and yellow mingling and dancing 

 among the crystals until the beauty of it all be- 

 came so weird and grand that it fairly fascinated 

 the eye that saw and felt its power. Ah, the 

 magic influence of it all, just " speaking and it 

 is done." Then what a gallery it is, vast, and 

 free as it is vast. I wait where its shadows fall, 

 and the faintest gleam of the faintest shadow is 

 of the very tracery of life, jewels of the fadeless 

 crown. 



An extensive walk last week took me along the 

 borders of the swamp and far afield in the open 

 reaches beyond. It was a cool, foggy day and I 

 did not expect to meet many of the inhabitants 

 or fall in with any new adventures. I knocked 

 at the doors of the ant-hills, but received no re- 

 sponse. I noticed that all the gates of their 

 mansions were closed tightly, and knew the resi- 



