The Song of the Cardinal

dear!" croone

the ground. If she worked in a bit of wild grape-vine bark, he peeled grape-vines until she would have no more. It never occurred to him that he was the largest cardinal in the woods, in those days, and he had forgotten that he wore a red coat. She was not a skilled architect. Her nest certainly was a loose ramshackle affair

in her nest. If he went to the corn field for grubs, she stood astride her eggs and peered down, watching his every movement with unconcealed anxiety. The Cardinal forgot to be vain of his

went to bathe and exercise. The daintiest of every morsel he found was carried to her. When she refused to swallow another particle, he perc

tention. He was so anxious to be inconspicuous that he appeared only half his real size. Always on leaving he gave her

improvising cradle songs and lullabies. He was telling her how he loved her, how he would fight for her, how he was watching over her, how he would signal if any danger were approaching, how proud he was of her, what a perfect nes

his song again, an' this time I'm blest if I can tell what he's saying!" Every time the Cardinal lif

a new tune, an' this time I'm completely stalled. I can't for the life of me make out what he's say

work the following morning, and very early slipped along the line fence. Hiding behind the oak, with straining ear and throbbing heart, she eagerly listened. "Cl

he love that encompassed him. As he trilled forth his tender caressing strain

-way on his return trip. Forgetful of her habitual reserve, she threw her arms around his neck, and drawing his face to he

dear!" echoed

ed into comprehension. He swept Maria

t he's saying, plain as gospel! I can tell it p

gainst his breast with a trembling old hand, whil

d as me an' the redbird!" Clasping each other, they listened with rapt faces, as, m

very day, rain or shine, with the same regularity that he curried and fed Nancy in the barn. From caring for and so lov

d that they sheltered an anxious-eyed little mother. He left a square yard of clover unmowed, because it seemed to him that the lark, singing nearer the Throne than any other bird, was picking up stray notes dropped by the Invisible Choir, and with unequalled purity and tenderness, sending them ringing down to his brooding mate, whose home and happiness would be despoiled by the reaping of th

sh and heretofore unappreciated loveliness. His very muscles seemed to relax, and new strength arose to meet the demands of his uplifted spirit. He had not finished his day's work with such ease and pleasure in years; and he could see the influence of his rejuvenation in Maria. She was flitting around her house with b

home bearing a number of pine boards on

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NTING A

THIS

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h were full o' birds an' squirrels, any amount o' rabbits, an' the fish fairly crowdin' in the river. I used to kill all the quail an' wild turkeys about here a body needed to make an appetizing change, It was always my plan to take a little an' leave a little. But jest look at it now. Surprise o' my life if I get a two-pound bass. Wild turkey gobblin' would scare me most out

laws made to protect 'em, people ought to act with some sense, an' leave them alone. I never was so int'rested in the birds in all my life; an' I'll jest do a l

filled his pockets with crumbs and grain, and strolled to the river to set the Cardinal's table. He could hear the sharp

e carried her one morsel after another until she refused to open her beak for more. He made a light supper himself; and then swinging on the grape-vine, he closed the day with an hour of music. He repeatedly turned a bright questioning eye toward Abram, but he never for a moment lost sight

sure, there was trouble in the sumac. He had overstayed his time, chasing a fat moth he particularly wanted for his mate, and she, growing thirsty past endurance, left the nest and

. The Cardinal mournfully carried away the tell-tale bits of shell, so that any one seeing them would not look up and discover his treasures. That left three eggs; and the brooding bird