Litchfield enquirer., 1839-09-12


quiet Irving-like essay, in the Augn,
knickerbocker.. The following passage
are almost as natural and happy, as Geol
Trey CrayOn's |" Birds of Spring"
"A little way from my dwelling. Il
1ecP valley, through which, tumbling fron
fail to fall, clear stream pursues lis way
m.urmuring fitfully, as the breezes swell an,
ore along its borders. Its banks are green
tor a narrow space on each side. and sIss
hills which rise around. are fwooded ~ ths
Top There is one deep dark pooI, where
the water wlirls around the twisted roofs
O an an old tree, which appears to be the rem
oezvous OF ailihe piscatorial tribe that nav
gate that way. a kind Of stopping place
maven OF debate and consultation. Here
sports the trout, bedeckt with gold = the
sinner, bright as bar Of silver !: the in.
dolcnt sucker rolling from side To side.
win an easy motion. the Hat fish, brist-
ing like. an angry dog; each intent upon
"'s OWE business some putting out Of port,
and some darling in; keeping, continually
. ousy excitement in the little community.
$50 Here4 sit upon the fragrant grass. and
pursue my sports, and have become so
familiar with the spot and it's inhabitants,
that ! am grown to be quite philosopher,
as well as anglor.
upon the hill above me, day utter day,
an easy, good naiHred COW, with d bell al.
lached TO her neck, goes tink- iink-song ;
t'nk-tink, tong-tOng passing the whole 81
her time in the labor Of eating. She has
worn winding path down TO the brock.
down which she marches. with great crawl
~, for little refreshment. Somti.nes
when the heat is oppressive, she tarries
while, and seems quite pleased At my sports.
She IS very decent, well behaved, well
disposed animal, Of good character, and in
dustrious habits. . u
"A large freq, with green snrfout and
dark brooches, sits just opposite, looking
exceedingly malicious and apparently swell
ling with rage. He seems never to consid-
er himself quite secure on land, and stands
ready OF any monent for spring. jug
gero-juggero! plump!'-and away be
goes. This frog is the most distant Of all
my anImal acquaintance. Every time he
makes his appearance, he siucked up In
his own conceit; swelled around the neck
like corpnlent pope gloomy, taciturn,
and independent; and he always leaves me
without taking leave. in q very impoli.e
Buttho whole wood is alive with birds.
They assemble in the cool depths Of the
valley, where the air is tempered by the
running water, and sing together their thou-
sand melodies. | have watched them as
they came dashing along into their shelter,
and welcomed them, az hermit does
way-traveller.
There is the robin, with his breast of
gold, looking rather grave and singing
pIaintively with an air ofconcern about
him. He is troubled about many things,
but chiefly, where he shall build his nest /;
and he fits from tree TO tree, followed by
his mate, curionsly examining every crotch;
and then dasbing to the earth, be trips
along 10 SEQ what simber there is al hand,
to rear his mansion. He seems to have q
foretlougha and being thus chasisned
down is devoid Of all giJdiness and folly.
There is something soft and touching in
his music, as no sings in the twilight Of the
evening, whom the forest is still, and all
around, the landscape fades into indistinct-
ness. We all lovo the robin.
But the FIRE bird, or golden robin, a
gay relation Of the red breast, is a Wild
dashing fellow. Away he goes. blaziag
through tho trees perfectly reckless !; bob
bling around with jerk then back and of
the next moment in tangent. He ape
pears to be tho busiest mortal alive: but,
like some men who are always in a hurry,
he accon,plishes but little. He cuts great
figure with his fire red suit, and shows q
good taste in building q hanging nest. whore
10 lies and swings, as the brcezes may
blow; taking bis own comfort in his own
way. like the company Of this little Co
questc, exceedingly. .s .
"Just opposite, a wood pccker makes
his appearance upon the trunk OF On enor-
nous tree, where he hammers away for
hours together. He 10 as white 40 milk,
with black stripes down his back, and .
head as red as blood. He Is most indus
trious fellow. While all the birds around
him are intoxicated with joy, he keeps a.
busy o. his mechanical work as a tinker at
an old kettle. There Is no Poetry - the
wood pscker, / am sure. An seasons are
alike TO him. He is a practical body--a
regular sworkey; a bird of substantial
parts, but after al, a very clever fellow
tie subsists upon the worms drawn from
decayed trees. and leaves the food upon
the earth for the lazy. and groyelling, and
uncnterprising portion Of his tribe.
But the owl is dozy chap! There
he sits. on tina left--a knob Of feathers ;
winkine at my fish line. and looking as
wise as a magistrate with wig. What q
dreamy life he passes : all the day in .
brown SHADY. AyenerabIc looking block
head, but great coward, IS the owl In
the morning and evening twilight, he salIies
ont for his food, when other birds. Of tenn
perate habits, are at rest. Al very gloomy
and unsoc al body is the melancholy owl
or ali the birds that keep me cOmpa-