Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-05-22
MIis0@llamYo
THE BIRDS OF SPRING.
BY wAsHISoTOs IRVING

BY WAsHiNoTOS lkYlNo
My quiet residence IN the country,
alooi from fashion, politics, and the mon
ey market, leaves ma rather at a loss for
important occupation, and doves M TO
the study of mature, and other low pur-
suits. Having few nelghbors, also, on
whom TO keepa watch and x.rcisr my
habits OF observation, am fain to amuse
my sell with pryiDg into the domestic con.
Germs and pecullarIties of tire animals
around me; and during the prtsrn, sea-
son, have derived considerable entertain.
ment from certain aocal little birds al
most the only vislters We have, during
this early lart Of the year.
Those who have passed the winter in
the country, are sensible OF the delightful
influences that accompany the earliest ln-
dcatlons Of spring; and of these none are
more delightful than the first notes of the
birds. There is one modes, little sad
colo'ed bird, much resembling a wren,
which came about the house Just on The
skiits Of the winter, when not blade oil
grass was 10 be seen, and when few
prematurely warm days had gwen a fiat
tering foreiaste OF soll weather. He sang
early in the dawning, long b. fore sunrise,
and late IN The evening, just before the
closing IN Of night, his matn and his YES
per hymns. 1t is true, lie sang OCCASION
ally throughout the day but at these
still hours, his song was more remark d
lie sat on a leahrss tree, just before the
window, and warb'ed forth his notes, tr' e
and simple, but singuIarly sweet, with
something ola plaintlve tone, that heigh
tened their effect.
The first morning tina, he was heard
was joyous one among the young folks
of my household. The long, death Ike
sleep of winter was at an end nature
was once more awakening; they now
promised themselves the imme dlate ap.
pearsnce Of buds and blossoms. Twas
reminded Of the tempest-tossed crew Of
Columbus, when. after their long, dubi-
ous voyage, the field-5irds came singing
round the ship, still far at sea, reducing
them with the belief oil the immediate
proximity Of land, A sharp return Of
winter almost slenced my lttle songster,
aud shed the hdarty Of thu household /;
vt still he poured fort,., nov and then,
few pi7i1tive nntrs between the foSiy
plpiug' OF the b'etze, like CLEANS Of sun
snlne between wiutry clouds.
nave consulted my book of ornirholo
", in VAN, 10 fad ont the name Of This
kudly little bird, who certainly drs"rv. $
honur aud favor lar beyond his mo est
IpretenSons h. comrs Ike the lowly Vi.
olet, the most unprrtending but W, Loom
est of flowers, breathing the sweet prom
lse of the early year.
Another Of our frathered Wis tors who
follow close upon the steps of winter, is
the Pe.wit, or Pc, wee, or PhGbe-blld !;
for he is called by each Of these names,
from frncied resemblance to the sound
OF his monotonous note. He is sociabe
little being, and seeks the hab,aiinn o]
man. A pair of them have built beneath
my porch, and have rearel several broods
there, Tor two years past, their mes, beng
never disturbed. They arrive early in
thu spring, Just when the crocus and th.
snow drop begin 10 peep forth. Their
fist chirp spreads gladn So through III.
house. "The Pheb- 5,ris have come !"
is heard on all sides they are welcomed
back ike members of the family and
specul tons are made upn ~hrie they
have been, and what countries they havr
seen during their long absence. Their
arrival is the more CHI erlrg, as 1t is pro-
nounred, by the old weatner.wise prupl-
ofthe country. the sure sign, that the Sc
we're frosts are at an end, and that The
gardener may resume his labors with con-
hjence.
About this time, too, arrives the blue
bird, so POLITICALLY yet truly described by
Wilson. HIS appearance gladdens The
whole landscape. You hear his soft war
Bile in every field. He socially approach.
es your habitation, and takes up lis resi-
dsnce 10 your vicinity. But why should