146 THROUGH LIBRARY WINDOWS 



keeping happily on with their nesting and car- 

 ing for the young as if none were present. 

 These April and May days of shower and sun- 

 shine bring us into the orchard, and eagerly we 

 watch the first red buds and blossoms. There 

 is nothing in nature that excels an apple-tree in 

 full bloom! Along the fence of our orchard 

 are raspberry and blackberry bushes intermin- 

 gled with currants and gooseberies — a mighty 

 nice hiding place for chipmunks, and shady 

 haunts for ground-loving birds, and rich feed- 

 ing places. Here revel the various sparrows 

 and chickadees and cat-birds and thrushes, etc. ; 

 feathers abound here, evidences of scraps. 

 Apple-trees always attract flies and bugs and 

 bees, and all larvae-depositing insects, and are 

 the very best hunting ground. A bird's daily 

 existence is a bewitching mystery. How active 

 in search of food and watchful of a possible 

 enemy. How graceful every move and grate- 

 ful for every find. Our visitors are often 

 charmed into utter forgetfulness of the subject 

 under discussion — but vision is intense, putting 

 in its best work. 



The shrubs and flowers look very charming 

 over yonder in the garden bearing just a dream 

 of sunset glory on their edges, and emitting an 

 Edenic perfume, kindling indescribable emo- 



