< Page:Bird-lore Vol 01.djvu
This page needs to be proofread.

84

Bird-Lore

vinced that no hostilities were intended, he gave a long, trustful look into the face of his benefactress and flew to her feet.

A gray squirrel frisking by stopped at the lunch-counter and seized an 'Educator' cracker.

The novel sensation of an uncaged bird within touch, where one might note the lovely shading of his plumage as one notes a flower, was memorable; but a sweeter surprise was in store. As we left the house, having made obeisance to his eminence the Cardinal, the bird


CARDINAL AND GRAY SQUIRREL


flew into a spruce tree and saluted us with a melodious 'Mizpah.' Then, as if reading the longing of our hearts, he opened his bright bill, and a song came forth such as never before enraptured the air of a New England March,a song so copious, so free, so full of heavenly hope, that it seemed as if forever obliterated were the 'tragic memories of his race.'

As March advanced, several changes in the Cardinal were noted by his ever-watchful friends. He made longer trips abroad, returning tired and hungry. The restlessness of the unsatisfied heart was plainly his. His long, sweet, interpolating whistle, variously ren-

This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.