The Warblers 



By Helen M. Bacon 



Said to be*'the most numerous, the most beautiful, and the least known" 

 of our song-birds. 



1/ Don't you hear them coming, coming, 

 With gay wings softly humming? 

 Up from the vasts of far-oft Brazil, 

 From lake and forest and jungle still ; 

 Winging their way across gulf and sea, 

 With flight so swift and sure and free; 

 With pauses short for hunger's call, 

 On, on, to far Northland, hastening all. 



Myriads, flashing blue, yellow, or red. 

 Gay spots on wing or on tail or on head ; 

 Dainty black bill and bright beady eye. 

 Flitting and glancing as onward they hie. 

 Smaller than sparrow — more beautiful far — 

 Brilliantly spotted with streak or with bar, 

 Delicate structure of legs and of feet 

 Tucked into breast while the wings are so fleet. 



An army of weaklings, yet now they defy 

 Great stretches of sea and of land, tho' they die. 

 Their goal — a soft nest in a far Northern tree. 

 With home-keeping ties and love's jubilee, 

 As tireless they speed o'er sea and o'er land. 

 Oh ! pause to consider this brave dauntless band. 

 Look up! as they pass us in IMay, and be glad 

 To see them in beauty and brightness thus clad. 



Silently flitting to far-away home, 



Let us "bag them with eye-beams" as onward they roam, 



Only pausing a bit on limb or on bush 



Before once again on their journey they push. 



They are coming soon from their far winter rest 



In search of a mate and a happy home-nest. 



With gay wings softly humming, 



Don't you hear them coming, coming? 



659 



