Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-06-13
BIRDS OF SPRING.

and one that rivals the European lark. IN my
estimation, is the boblncon, or bobllnk, rs b'
is commonly called He arrives at tina
choice portion of the year, which in this lai
tude, answers to the description of the monll
OF May, so often given by the poets. Will
us il begins about the middle of May ant
lasts till nearly the middle OF June. Earle
than this winter is apt to return on its traces
and to blight the opening benuties of the
year, and later than this, begin the parchlng
ond painting, and dissoIving heats of summer
But in this genial interval, nature is in all
her freshness and fragrance: the rains are
over aud gone, the flowers appear upon the
euith, the time Of the singing Of birds is come.
and the voice Of the turtle is heard in th,
land The trees are now in their fullest To-
liage aud brightest verdure the woods are
gay with the clustered flowers Of the laurel ;
the air is perfumed by the sweet briar an
tho wild rose /; the meadows are enamelled
with clover blossoms while the young apple.
the peach, and the plum, begin to swell, and
the cherry to glow among the green leaves.
This is the chosen season OF revelry oil
the boblink. lie comes amidst the pomp and
fragrance Of the season; hls life seems all
sensibility and enjoyment, all song and sun
shine.
file is to be found in the soft bosoms of tn
freshet and sweetest meadows; and is most
in song when the clover is in blossom. lie
perches on the topmast twig OF tree, or OF
some Haunting weed, and as he rises and
sinks with the breeze, pours forth success.
sion Of rich tInkling notes crowding one
upon another, like the outpouriDg melody OF
the sky.ark, and possessing the same rapiur
Gus character. Sometimes he pitches from
the summit Of tree, begins his song as soon
as he gets upon the wing, and hutters tremu
)ous to the earth, as il overcome with ccstacy
at his own music. Sometimes he is in pur
suit of his parameur always in full song, a.
If he would win her by his melody and al.
ways with the same appearance OF intoxlca
ton and delight.
ows, the Bobink was the envy of my boy.
hood. He crossed my path in the sweetest
weather, and the sweetest season in the year.
when all nature called 10 the fields, and the
rural feeling throbbed in every bosom bu'
when !, lucklcss urchin, was doomed to b,
mewed up, dnring the live-long day, in that
purgatory Of boyhood, school room. il
seemed as If the little varlet mocked at me-
as he flew by in full song, and sought to taun'
me with his happier lot. Oh how ! envied
him! No lessons, no tasks, no hateful school;
nothing bot holiday, froic, green fields, and
fine weather. Had been more verseG in
poetry, might have addressed him in the
words Of Legan TO the cuckoo:
Sweet bird thy bower is ever green,
Thy sky Is ever clear
Thou hast no sorrow In thy tone,
No winter IN th! year.
oh could ny, I'd hy with thee,
We'd make joyful wing,
Our annual visit round the globe,
Companions of the spring
Further observation and experience have
given men different idea of this little ieath
cred voluptuary, which | will venture to i'm
part, for the school.boy readers, who may re-.
gard him with the same unqualified envy and
admiration which once INDUCED. have
shown him only as saw him at first, in what
! may call the poetical part Of his career.
when he 10 a manner devoted himself to ele-
giant pursuits and enjoyments, and was Il
bird OF music, and song, and taste, and sen.
sibility, and refinement. Whilst this lasted.
he was sacred from injury the very school
boy would not fling a stone at him, and tn,
mercst rustic would pause olistcn to his strain
But mark the difference. As the year al
vanccs, as the clover blossoms disappear, an'
the spring fades into summer, his notes ceas,
to vibrate on the ear. lie gradually gives ~
his elegant tastes aud habits, dofis his poetl
cal aud professional suit Of black, assumes
russct or rather dusty garb, und enters into
the gross enj"yincnts Of common vulga
birds.
lie becomes bon vivant, q mere gour
mand thinking Of nothing but good cheer
aud gor,pandizIng on the seeds OF the long
grasses on which lie so lately swung, snt
ehaunicd So unsteady. lie begins to thnl
there is nothing like "the joys of the table,
if I may be allowed 10 apply that convivio
phase to his indulgcncics. lie now grows
disconiented with plain, every day faro, and
sets out on a gosironomicol tour, IN search oi
foreign luxurics. lie is to be found in myri
ads among the reeds Of the Delaware, ban.
quoting on their seeds grows corpulcnt with
good feeding, aud soon acquires the unluck,
rcnown Of tho ottosn. Wherever he goes,
pop! pop! pop the rusty 6rclocks of th,
country are cracking on every side he sees
his companions FILLING by thousands sr,nna
bim he is the reed bird the much sought
for tit.bit Of the Prnnsylvania epicurc.
Docs he take warning aud rcfnrm Nn
he lie wings his flight still farther SoutL.
In search Of other Injuries. We hear OF hiu
Rorging himself IN the rice swsmps 6llinr
himself With rice slDOst 10 bursting he ca,
hardly fy for cofpulcncy. Last stage VI h.