ii2 THROUGH LIBRARY WINDOWS 



anything more dreamily romantic than resting 

 in a hammock in perfect weather conditions, it 

 would be worth a good deal to experience it. 

 The quiet, the balmy air, the green canopy, 

 patches of blue sky, the friendly birds, the half 

 shut book and the visions of imagination hazily 

 vanishing far away, the cooling breezes com- 

 ing up from the sea and passing over into the 

 woods yonder of oak and pine: — O how deli- 

 cious it all is, for nature everywhere this balmy 

 essence breathes. How it fondles you with its 

 soft caressing touch, and you lean your cheek 

 against it as if it were velvet. Every sense 

 is regaled; those indefinable odors surely come 

 from some invisible spice islands and swing- 

 ing but lightly one's very being is enwrapped 

 in the perfection of physical luxury. In this 

 half heavenly state I am as one dreaming, the 

 music of the birds is enchanting me, solos and 

 duets, choruses as from a full choir and trained 

 orchestra, making the air tremulous and jubi- 

 lant with exquisite melody. Listen to that Song 

 Sparrow ; he does know how to pour out his 

 very soul in song, and just how much to give. 

 His song has remarkable variations and 

 equalled by no other bird. He has seven of 

 these variations distinctly recognizable; sings 

 one of them over and over a score of times t 



