A Little Gray Nest in the Cat-Tails. 



By CAROLYN B. LYMAN. 



A little gray nest in the cat-tails, 

 Four spotted eggs of pale blue, 



Hidden away in the marshes — 

 Out in the sunshine and dew. 



Four tiny bills pointing upward ! 



Fluttering of downy wings! 

 Twittering low, o'er the morsel 



Mother-bird, daintily, brings. 



Four feathered birdlings all tilting, 

 Perched on a little gray nest ! 



Red-wing, so troubled and guarding, 

 Hardly finds time now to rest. 



Four tiny heads, looking skyward — 

 Watching the flight of the bee, 



Watching the butterfly sailing — 

 Anxious the wide world to see ! 



A little gray nest in the cat-tails, 

 Swaying, the dull, autumn day ! 

 Lonely and still are the marshes — 



Red 



wings 



are 11 



own- 



far 



away 



' ■ M ill. III. M l 



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