OUR HOME BIRDS. 
39 
it, I meant to let it go again ; but I will not even try 
to catch them any more.” 
“ We are going to talk this very evening about the 
bird you saw,” continued Miss Harson : “ he is an old 
friend of mine, and one of our most welcome spring # 
warblers. But just now lessons are the order of the 
day” 
“ I know the name of the bird that Clara saw this 
morning,” said Malcolm, when they were settled again 
for a talk : “ it was a blue-bird ; Patrick says so. He 
has seen lots of ’em lately.” 
“ The blue-bird is sometimes seen very early in the 
season,” replied Miss Harson — “ before the snow- 
storms are over; but when winter seems to return 
he disappears again, and waits for milder weather. 
About the middle of March he is again seen, accom- 
panied by his mate, visiting the box in the garden or 
the hole in the old apple tree, the cradle of some gen- 
erations of his ancestors. As one of the first mes- 
sengers of spring, bringing the charming tidings to 
our very doors, he always bears his own recommenda- 
tion along with him, and meets with a hearty welcome 
from everybody. 
i When winter’s cold tempests and snows are no more, 
Green meadows and brown-furrowed fields reappearing, 
The fishermen hauling their shad to the shore, 
And cloud-cleaving geese to the lakes are a-steering — 
