Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-03-16
DAILY IIRGINIAN.
The Birds of Spring
BY WASHINGTON IRVING

My quiet residence in the country, aloof from
fashion politics, and the money market, leaves mo
rather at II loss for occupation and drives me 90.
Cuslonally Ia the study of nature, and other low
pursuits. Having few ncighbors, ON whom to
keep II watch and exercise my habits of observa-
tion, fan TO anuse myself with prying into tho
domestic concerns and poculiarites of tho ami
mails around me; and, during the present season.
have derived considerable entertainment from GER
tam sociable little birds, almost the only visit
ors we have, during this early part OF tho year.
Those who have passed the winter III the coun-
try, are sensible of the delightful influences that
accompany the earliest Indications of spring, and
of these, none moro dohghttul than the first
notes of the birds. Thcrc is one modest little
sade eolored bird, much resembling wren, which
came about the house Just on the skirts of winter,
when not II blade of grass WIS to be seen, and
when n lew promaturely warm days Ind given
dattering ioretnste of soft weather. ilo sang
curly in the dawning, long before sunrise, and
late IN the evening, just before the closing in OF
night, his matin aud his vesper hymns. II s
true, ho sang occasionally throughout tho day,
but at these still hours, his song more
marked. He sat on eancss tree, ust before the
window, and warbled forth his notes, few and sim
pie, but slngularly sweet with something of II
paintvo tone, that heightened their effect
The first morning TINT he wns honrd,wns II joy
GUS one among the young folks of my household
The long, denh like sleep of winter was at an
end nature was once more awakening they now
promised themselves the Immediate appearance
of buds md blossoms. | was reminded of the
tempest tossed crew of Columbus, when, after
their long dubious voyage. the field birds came
singing round the ship, though still far nj sea, ro.
| joeng them with the belief of the immediate
| proximity of land sharp return of winter nj
most silenced my little songster, and dashed the
| hilarity of tho household vet still he poured
| forth, now and then, few pnintve notes, be
tween the frosty ppings of the breeze, like CLEANS
of sunshine between wintry clouds.
have consulted my books of ornthology in
vain, to find out the name of this kindly little
bird, who certainly deserves honor and favor far
| beyond his modest pretonsons. lie comes like
the lowly violet, the most unpretcndng but wei
| colnest of flowers, breathing the sweet promise
ol the early yenr.
! Another of our feathorcd visitors, who follow
close upon the steps of winter, is the powit, or
i'ee-woc, or Phmbe bird, for he is called by each
| Of these names, from II tnncied resemblance To
| the sound of his monotonou- note. lie is II
| cla little being, and seeks the hnlinion OF men
| \ pair of them have built beneath my porch, and
! Lave reared several broods there, for two years
| past their nest never being disturbed. They ar
! rive early in the spring, just when the crocus
/ and snow wdrop begin To peep forth. Their first
| chi1p spreads Eladness through the house. The
! 'l'hoho birds have come !! Is heard ON nll sides;
! they welcomed back like members of the
| family; and spooulations are made upon whore
| they have been, during their long ABSENCE
! lhoir arrival tho more cheering, as II is nm
! nounce by the old weather wise people of the
! country, the sure sign that the severe irosis nre
! at an end, and THAT the gardner may resume his
! ilbors with confidence.
About this time, too arrives the hlne-bird SO
poetcaIIy yet truly described by Wilson. His
| nppearnnce glnddcns tho whole landscape. lie
socially approaches your hnhitation and takes
up his residence in your vicinity
The hnppest bird of our spring; however, and
one that rivals the European lark in nv estima-
tion, j. the Bo5ncon, or Boblink as he is com
monty called. Icnrriyos Mt that choice portion
Of our yenr, which lin this latitude answers to the
! description of the month os Mnv 80 often given
! by the poets With us, it begins about the mid
! die of May. and lasts until nearly the middle of
| June Earlier than this, winter Is apt 10 return
on It's traces. and Ia blight the opening beauties
! Of the vear, and later thnn this, bopin tho pnr-
| cbinp and nnntin,. aud dissolying heats of sum
! mer. But IN This peninl interval nature is in all
her fres shne.s and frncnucc .s'The rains are over
| mud pnun the Ho,vers nnnrnr npon the earth the
tm. of the singuo of b,rd. j. come, and the voice
! If tbe turtlo !. hoard in the land - The trees
ore now in thrr flle.t C,ilnga mud brirbtest YER
1nre. tbe woods ore nav with the clustered flow.
ers nf tb, lourel. the air i nerfnned Inv the
sweet brar and the wild rose; the meadows nro
rnamollod with cloyer. blossoms. while the younp
apnle. the neacb. and thc plum bepin 10 swClland
the cherry 10 GLOW among the green leaves.
This is the chosen scnson of reyeIry of the
BoAnk. He comes amidst the pomp and fra
rnnce of the season; his life seems all sensibili-
! ~ and enjoyment, all song and sunshine. lie Is
f., H.. f,und IN la sft h,.,nta uf tina frr hos and
! '7'''