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E. M. Story—When Memory Laughed



belongs, which when in a hurry flaps its wings, using them on the

water like paddles, hence its name, Steamer Duck. It is clad in grey,

with a laced effect, white round eye, olive-yellow beak, and feet very

heavily built. It might be described as the bulldog of the Duck world.


The Zoo collection is quite a good one, but not outstanding ; many

members of this Society have collections which are far larger and

more varied ; however, far-away readers may like to hear what varieties

are at the present time at Regent’s Park. They are mostly housed

in the large pond which forms part of perhaps the prettiest portion

of the Gardens. On the left, coming from the North Entrance, are

the Birds of Prey aviaries, with the bedded-out stretch of garden in

front of them, very well done indeed, and a blaze of colour all spring,

summer, and autumn. The pond is surrounded by large trees, stretches

of grass, and beautiful flowering shrubs, and forms a cool and attractive

spot in the summer months. The Waterfowl look happy dipping in

and out of the water, and the Flamingoes add very much to the picture.

Of these I will write some other time.



WHEN MEMORY LAUGHED


By E. M. Story


The bird of blue—invisible—-had fled,


Was due the crimson daw of woe complete,


And Memory sat her down in Mea Culpa seat,


Too sorrow-weighted to lift up her head

Lest she might see aloft the bird of red.


She heard the passage of the unseen wings

And circling round her felt forgotten things

Catching the mingled flash of blue and red.


The sun shone forth from out the cloud of gloom

Touching to brilliance things of darkest hue

Rippling the waters of Nepenthe’s stream ;


And Memory watched the flowers aburst to bloom

And caught the blended tints of red and blue

And laughed, as fled her fears, chased by the beam.


The blue bird of happiness—Maeterlinck.


The crimson daw of misery—Cassidy.



