FEATHERED PHILOSOPHERS 99 



Have you ever noticed the oriole's 

 fleetness of wing, foot, and eye? He 

 is the fiery hang-bird who, wearing 

 Lord Baltimore's colours, flits about 

 among the sweeping elm branches in 

 May, searching for a wand both strong 

 and supple, where he may safely anchor 

 his sky cradle. There is much thought 

 required in the choosing of a location, 

 with a dense leafy spray above it like 

 an umbrella, and no twigs underneath 

 to chafe when the wind rocks. 



Near here is a garden, arched by 

 elms and beeches, where all the sea'son 

 the most gorgeous flowers blaze upon 

 the even turf, from the gold of the first 

 crocus until the last chrysanthemum 

 yields to the frost, and even then glass- 

 shielded orchids and a mist of ferns 

 and regal roses bridge the winter. 

 The keeper of this garden lives with 

 the flowers, watching the signs of sky 



