Alabama, 1915. 45 



WELCOME TO THE BIRDS 



HARK, hear the merry chorus, 

 List to the song so sweet, 

 From every tree-top o'er us, 

 Mountain and valley round us, 



Echo the glad refrain, 



Comes a carol meet; 

 Bidding us all be joyous, — 



Join in the gladsome strain, 

 Cherish with kindly feeling, 



Each little bird so dear, 

 Ever about us flitting, 



Bringing us heartfelt cheer ; 

 Throats that are never weary ; 



Gaily they chant their lay, 

 Birdies are ever cheery, 



Make us like them, we pray. 



b 



THE DOWNY WOODPECKER 



THE Downy is a drummer-boy, his drum a hollow limb ; 

 If people listen or do not, it's all the same to him. 

 He plays a Chinese melody, and plays it with a will, 

 Without another drumstick but just his little bill ; 

 And he isn't playing all for fun, nor just to have a lark, 



He's after every kind of bug or worm within the bark ; 

 Or, if there is a coddling moth, he'll get him without fail, 



While holding firmly to the tree with all his toes, and tail. 

 He is fond of every insect, and every insect egg; 



He works for everything he gets, and never has to beg. 

 From weather either cold or hot he never runs away ; 



So, when you find him present, you may hope that he will stay. 



— Garrett Newkirh. 



