The Ruffed Grouse ig 
Into stumps, or gaping ledges 
Crowd their downy, frightened bodies, 
Wait till danger long has vanished. 
Then with reassuring mewing 
Comes the mother back to call them, 
Nestle one by one beneath her. 
Soothe their fright and preen their plum- 
age. 
Anxious days — the days of autumn, 
When from foggy morn till evening 
Every mountain rolls back echoes^ 
Guns are thund'ring, dogs are yelping. 
Danger lurks in every thicket. 
Flocks are broken, broods are scattered. 
Red the maples — red like heart's blood. 
Thick the leaves fall — thick as sor- 
rows, 
Every breeze becomes a warning. 
Every creaking limb a terror, 
Every trailing stem of blackb'ry 
Seems a snare to seize the heedless. 
