RUSTLING WINGS 



171 



autumn that is a forecast of spring 

 rapture. 



Go to some hollow or bushy nook 

 not far remote from houses, — a garden 

 seat in an arbour, or a stone by the 

 spring, are perhaps the best places, — 

 and when the surroundings have accus- 

 tomed themselves to you, have accepted 

 the honesty of your intentions so that 

 you may move your head without caus- 

 ing any alarm, then you may listen to 

 the babbling of the young birds of the 

 season, the first sounds from the newly 

 developed throats. These notes are 

 so fresh and young, so sweet and guile- 

 less, wholly without emotion, like child- 

 ish prattle, and in keeping with the 

 birds' hybrid feathers. It is easy to tell 

 the young from their experienced par- 

 ents, even when there is nothing deci- 

 sive in their plumage: they are less 

 timid and gaze about in an unconcerned 



