would say that we mean to contend for that prize, and to secure the orchards and gardens by protecting the birds, and offering a handsome bounty for the ears of those who shoot them. 2 4 7. Kalm1 tells us, that the planters in Virginia succeeded, at last, by legislative enactments,3 in exterminating the little crow, and exulted much on the occasion. But it was not long before their triumph was changed to mourning. They found that the acts had been passed for the benefit of insects, not their own, and they would gladly have offered a larger bounty to bring back the persecuted birds. 8. We shall not plead for the crow, who is fully able to take care of himself; but we must file a protest against the practice of destroying the birds of the garden, for, besides depriving us of the beauty of their appearance and the music of their song, it lets in a flood of insects, whose numbers the birds were commissioned to keep down; and, when we find this evil growing year by year, as most assuredly it will, there will be little consolation in reflecting, that we have brought it upon ourselves. 9. The song of birds is not much better known than their habits and persons. How many have ever seen the crimson linnet, as he sits playing the flute on the very summit of the loftiest tree, sometimes diminishing his strain almost to silence, then pouring it out in bursts of rapture? 10. It is common to say that beauty of plumage and sweetnèss of song are not found together. It may be true that they are seldom united in the highest perfection; but every child knows, that the clear piping of the baltimore and the varied whistle of the goldfinch are as pleasant to the ear as their fine colors are to the eye; and the brilliant red-bird, which sometimes visits New England, is not more distinguished for the bright scarlet of his dress than for the sweet and bold expression of his song. 11. There is so much that inspires curiosity about the various 1 Peter Kalm, a Swedish naturalist, author of "A Naturalist's Tour in North America," lived between 1715 and 1779. 2 Legislative, (lèd'jis lā`tiv), belonging or relating to the making of laws. 3 En ǎct' ment, the passing of a a bill into a law; decree; law. Ex termin at ing, destroying; putting an end to. 'Prō'test, remonstrance; a solemn declaration of opinion against what we do not wish. tribes of birds, that it is difficult to account for this contented ignorance of their ways, in which so many spend their lives. When the snows retreat to the mountains, the friendly voice of the robin, telling us that he is glad to see us again, has a magical' effect upon every one; it calls the heart and memory into action, and reminds us of all we love to remember. 2 12. Here he is again, but he can not tell us where he has been; what regions he has traversed, nor what invisible hand pointed out his path in the sky. If this inqui'ry in'terest us, we begin to look about us in the closing year: we see that, when the leaf grows red, the birds are disappearing, some assembling in solemn deliberation, to make arrangements for the purpose; others taking French leave, as it is unfitly called, without ceremony or farewell. II. 3 41. THE STORMY PETREL. HIS is the bird that sweeps o'er the sea- He never forsakes the billowy roar 2. Birds of the sea, they rejoice in storms; On the top of the wave you may see their forms; 5 Like phantom ships, they soar and sail. 3. All over the ocean, far from land, When the storm-king rises, dark and grand, 1 Magical, (måj'ik al), mysterious; for and against a measure or choice; seemingly performed by something beyond nature. careful consideration. 4 Tranquil, (trångk' wil), quiet; 2 In vis' ĭ ble, unseen; not capa- calm; peaceful. ble of being seen. 'De lib`er a' tion, the act of weighing and examining the reasons ' Phǎn' tom, that which has only an apparent existence; like an appa rition; ghostly. The mariner' sees the pětrel meet 4. So, mid the contest and toil of life, My soul, when the billows of rage and strife Is shrouded by vapors of somber hue— PARK BENJAMIN, III. 42. THE FALCON. HE falcon' is a noble bird, THE and when his heart of hearts is stirr'd, He'll seek the eagle, though he run Into his chamber near the sun. Never was there brute or bird, 2. To-day he sits upon ǎ wrist, Whose purple veins a queen has kiss'd, 3. Ah! noble soldier! noble bird! Crowning it with deathlèss glory? 1 Măr in er, seaman; sailor. which is often trained to catch other 2 'Făth' om less, that can not be birds, or game. fathomed, or sounded. 4 Grim' sel, a mountain of Swit 'Falcon, (få'kn), a bird of prey, zerland, 7126 feet above the sea. Peace, ho! the master's eye is drawn B. W. PROCTER. B IV. 43. TO THE SKYLARK. IRD of the wilderness, Blithesome and cumberlèss,' Sweet be thy matin' o'er moorland and lea!* 6 Emblem of happiness, Blest is thy dwelling-place O, to ǎbide in the desert with thee! Wild is thy lay, and loud, Far in the downy cloud; Love gives it energy-love gave it birth! Where, on thy dewy wing Where art thou journeying? Thy lay is in heaven, thy love is on earth. O'er fell' and fountain sheen," O'er moor and mountain green, O'er the red streamer that heralds the day; Over the cloudlet dim, Over the rainbow's rim, Musical cherub, söar, singing, ǎway! Then, when the gloaming" comes, Quarry, (kworry), here means game flown at by a hawk. other thing in its leading qualities, and so used to represent it. The 2 Blithesome, (bilth'sům), gay; skylark is called the emblem of hap merry; cheerful. piness because it is so cheerful and * Cumberless, without anxiety, joyous. care, or trouble. 'Fell, a barren or stony hill; a ridge or chain of hills. Sweet will thy welcome and bed of love be! Blest is thy dwelling-place O, to abide in the desert with thee! V. 44. TO A WATERFOWL. HITHER, 'midst falling dew, JAMES HOGG. While glow the heavens with the last steps of day,' 2. Vainly the fowler's eye Might mark thy distant flight to do thee wrong, 3. Seek'st thou the plashy brink 4. There is a Power whose care Lone wandering, but not lost. 5. All day thy wings have fanned, Steps of Day.-The poet has sacrificed rhetorical rule to poetical beauty in the second line of this exquisitely beautiful piece. Rhetoricians might, perhaps, ask how the "heavens" could glow with a step. But the true poet (and if ever there was a true poet, William Cullen Bryant is one) looks deeper than rhetorical rule. The picture here presented of Day impressing his gorgeous colors, even with his very footsteps, on the heavens, is more grand and suggestive than any other expression he could have used. 2 Il lim' it a ble, without limit or measure; not capable of being limited; boundless. |