The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-05-18
WHOLE NO. 22s.

note lie is sociable little being and seek
the habitation of man. pair of them hav,
built beneath my poarch, and have reared
several broods there, for two years past, thei
nest being never disturbed. They arrive
early in the spring, just when the crocus ant
the snow-drop begin TO peep forth. Theil
first chirp spreads gladness through the
house. 'Phebe-birds have GOMEZ is heard
members Of the family; and specula,ions are
made upon where they have been, and wha,
countries they have seen, during their long
absence. Their arrival is the more cheering
as ills pronounced, by the old weather. wise
people of the country. the sure sign that the
severe frosts are al an end, and that the garde-
ner may resume his labors with confidence.
| About This time, too, arrives the blue-bird,
SO POLITICALLY yet truly described by Wilson.
| His appearance gladdens the whole land.
scape. You hear his soft warble in every
| field. He socially approaches your habta-
ton, and takes up his residence in your vi
clnity. But why should attempt 10 describe
him, when have Wilson's own graphic
verses to place him before the reader!
When winters cold tempes,s and SHOWS are no more,
| Green meadows and brown turrowed fields re-
appearing,
The fishermen hauling their shad to the shore,
Ana cloud-cieaying geese to the lakes are a-steer
When first the lone butterfly fits on the wing
when red glow The naples, SO fresh and so pleas
ing, -
Oh, then comes the blue-bird the herald Of spring
And halls with his warblings the charms of The
The loud piping frogs make the marshes to ring;
Then warm CLOVIS the sunshine, and warm glows
the weather; &.
The blue woodland flowers just beginning TO spring,
And spice-wood and sassafras budding together
Oh then TO your gardens, We housewives, repair,
Your walks border up, sow and plant at your
The blue. bird will chaunt from his box such an a ir
That all your hard tolls will seem truly plea
sure! ~.."..
He fits through the orchard, he visits each tree
The red towering peach, and the apples sweet
blossoms; -#7..,. 4. .aa ...H. ...
He snaps up des,rovers wherever they be,
And seizeS the cailiffs that Turk in their bosoms;
He drags the vile grub from rhe corn il devours,
The worms from their webs where they riot and
His song and his services freely are ours,
And all that he asks is, in Summer shelter.
The ploughman is pleased when he CLEANS in his
Now searching the furrows, now mounting 10
cheer him; m4u
The gardner delights 10 his sweet, simple strain
And leans on his spade to survey and 10 hear him.
The slow lingering school-boys forget they II be
child,
While gazing intent as he MARBLES before them,
In mantle Of ky-blue, and bosom so red,
The happpie'st lsltlsEeg seems to adore him.
and one that rivals the European lark, in my
estimation, is the Boblincon, or Boblink, as
he is commonly called. He arrives at that
choice portion of our year, which, in this
latitude, answers TO the description OF the
month of May, so often given by the poets.
With us, it begins about the middle Of May,
and lasts until nearly the middle OF June
Earlier than this. winter is apt 10 return on It's
traces, and to blight the opening beauties. Of
the wear; and later than this, begin the parch-
ing and painting, and dissolving heats OF sum-
mer But in this genial interval, nature is in
all her freshness and fragrance the rains
are over and gone, the flowers appear upon
the earth, the time Of the singing of birds is
come, and the voice Of the turtle is heard in
the land The trees are now in their fullest
foliage and brightest verdure the woods are
CAV with the clustered flowers Of the laurel
the air is perfumed by the sweet briar and
the wild rose; the meadows are enameled
with clover-bossoms 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 of the
Boblink. He comes amids, the pomp and
fragrance of the season; his life seems all
s, visibility and enjoyment, all song and sun.
shine. He is to be found in the soft bosoms OF
the freshest and sweetest meadows; and Is most
in song, when the clover is in blossom lie
perches on the topmost twig OF tree, or on
some fauniing weed and as he rises and
sinks with the breeze, pours forth success
sion of rich tinkling notes; crowding one
upon another, like the outpouring melody OF
the sky.lark, and possessing the same raptu-
rous character. Sometimes he pitches from
the summit of tree, begins his song as soon
as he gets upon the wing, and fuiters tremu-
lousy down to the earth, as if overcome with
ecstacy at his own music. Sometimes he is
in pursuit of his paramount; always in tull
song, as if he would win her by his melody !;
and always with the same appearance of in
toxication and delight.
OF all the birds Of our groves and meadows,
the Boblink was the envy of my boyhood.
He crossed my path in the sweetest weather,
and the sweetest season in the year, when
all nature called to the fields, and the rural
feelings throbhed in every bosom; but when
! |. luckless urchn was doomed TO be mewed
up during the live long day, in that purgatory,
of boyhood, school.room. 1t seemed as II
the little varet Knocked at me, as he flew oy
in full song, and sought 10 taunt me with his
happier lot Oh, how | envied him! NO
lessons. no tasks, no hateful school no'h!ns
hut holiday, frolic, green fields, and hne
weather Had been then more versed IN
poetry, I might have addressed HIM IN Inc
words of Logan to the cuckoo:
Sweet bird Thy bower is ever green,
i Thy sky is ever clear;
Thou hast no sorrow in thy note'
| No winter in Thy year.