114 
WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIRDS. 
the teens — and I had fallen into a dreamy mood in which I 
was permitting the spring to go by, without noting its flight, 
when I was suddenly roused one May morning by a most 
curious and unexpected incident. 
I had gone into the garden summer-house with my book 
as the excuse, but dreaming as usual, without noticing the 
letters on its pages, when a soft, whirring noise, close to my 
face, caused me to look up. About one foot from me a 
Humming Bird, poised so steadily upon the wing that its 
body seemed perfectly motionless, looked with its bright, 
knowing eye fixedly into mine. It did not move when I 
lifted my head, and retaining this position for nearly a quar- 
ter of a minute, with a low chirp darted out and settled on 
some flowers near to trim its plumes. I started up, while a 
quick thought sent a thrill of exquisite pleasure through my 
whole frame. The bird sat still. I ran with my utmost 
speed to the house, and, catching a glimpse of my sister, 
cried out to her, almost beside myself with excitement' — 
" Get the white cup 1 Get our cup ! some honey ! some 
sugar ! — here's the water ! — quick dear ! quick ! for heaven's 
sake !" 
" What is the matter with you, brother ?" exclaimed the 
distracted child, endeavoring at the same time to execute 
these multifarious orders all at once. 
" 0, our bird's come back ! I saw him just now ! Where 
are the closet keys ? 0, he's come back to us all the way 
from South America — the little darling ! I thought he 
couldn't forget us !" 
" But, brother, you are mad — how can you tell it from an- 
other Humming Bird — I've seen a dozen this spring !" 
" Oh ! I know it was one of the young ones — he came in 
and looked me in the eyes ever so long ! Do make haste !" 
The mixture is completed and off we run in trembling 
eagerness — for this test we knew would decide for or against 
us. We reach the summer-house — the magical white cup is 
raised before us, it is still sitting on the flower, — we give one 
