Music of the Wild 



them in their coats of h\'ing green. Somher and 

 ahiiost deserted the marsh hes, -svhile above it 

 to^\■ers the A\'oodpecker's tU-um, a monument to 

 lonehness. 



Then comes Jack I'rost, waving his magician's 

 wand and transforming the gray old marsh to a 

 scene of splendor. Xot a tree, bush or log does 

 he miss ^^hen he spreads his white robe and scat- 

 ters his jewels; and his lace-webbed work on fine 

 vines and weeds is most beautiful of all. Betimes 

 a cardinal flashes like a tongue of flame across the 

 white sheen, powdering his gay plumage with crys- 

 tals as he searches for seeds or rocks on a twig and 

 sings to the world of "Good cheer!" Again, a 

 song sjjarrow bravely pijjes in the face of ice and 

 snow, a falcon cries or a hawk screams. Small 

 gray titmice chatter socially as they search for 

 seed, and crows, appearing their biggest and black- 

 est in this white setting, keep watchful eyes for 

 the slee]:)ing quarters of all smaller birds. 



From hollow trees the squirrels loudly bark. 

 There are long irregular trails across the snow 

 where the furred people go hunting, and down to 

 the water to drink, and trampled places where the 

 cotton-tails dance in the moonlight. And always, 

 wdth darkness, from big hollow sycamores slip the 

 only feathei'ed singers of winter niglits — the owls 

 — with faces to fear, soundless wings, and dread- 

 ful claws, to prey on otlier musicians. 



324. 



