Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-03-15

domestic concerns and pcculisrities Of the
animals around me; a, d, during the prese ut
| season, have derived considerable entertain
ment from certain sociable little birds, al
most the only visiters we have, during this
early part of the year. g. .'.
Those who have passed the winter in the
country, are sensible of the delightful influ-
ences that accompany the earliest indica-
tions of spring; and Of these none are more
delightful than the first notes Of the Sirds.--
There is one modest little sad colered bird
much resembling wren, which came about
the house just on the skirts of winter, when
not blade Of grass was to he seen, and when
few premuturely warm days hao given a
flatterng fore nste of soft weather. He
sang early in the dawnng, long before sun
rise, and late in the evening, just before the
closing In night, his mstin and his vesper
hymns. 1t is true, he sang occasionally
throughout the day; but at these, still hours
his song was more remarked. He sat on a
leaf-less tree, just before the window, and
warbed forth his notes, few and simple, but
sirgularly sweet, with something of a plain
tive tone, that heightened their effect.
The first morning that he was heard, was
joyous one among the young folks of my
household. The long, death-like sleep Of
winter was at an end nature was once more
awakening; they now promised themselves
the immediate appearance OF buds and bios.
SONS. was reminded Of the tempest-to s.
sed crew of Columbus, when, after their
long dubious voyage, the feidblrds came
singing around the ship, though still far at
sea, rejoicing them with the belief Of tn e
immediate proximity Of land. A sharp re-
turn Of winter almost silenced my little SON.
gster, and dashed the hiliarty of the house
hold; yet still he poured forth, now and then
few pantive notes, between the frosty pip.
ings of the breeze, like CLEANS of sunshine
between winter clouds.
have consulted my bookof ornithology in
vain, to find out the name of this kindly lit.
favor far hey ond his modest pretentions. He
comes like the lowly violet, the most unpre-
tending, but wecomest of flowers, brea thing
the sweet promise of the early year.
Another of our feathered vsiters, who fol-
low close upon the s,eEs of winter, is the Pc.
wit, or Pe-wee, or Phoebe bird; for he is call
ed by each of these names, from fancied
resemblance to the sound of his mon >ionous
note. He is a socable little being, and
seeks the habtation of man. A pair ofthen
have built beneath my porch, and have rear.
ed several broods there, for two years past
their nest being never disturbed. They ar.
rive early in the spring, just when the crocus
and the snow-drup begin to peep firth -
Their first chirp spreads gladness through
the house, "I'he Phoebe birds have Gomez
is heard on all sides; they are welcomed
back like members Of the family; and specu
| latisns are made upon where they have been
and what countries they have seen, during
their long absence. Their arrival is the
moe cheering, as it is pronounced, by the
old wea ther-wise people of the country, the
sure sign that the severe frosts are at an end
/ anc that the gardener may resume his labors
with confidence. ..,.. -.-... '...
About this time, too, arrives the blue bird
50 POLITICALLY get truly described by Wilson
! His appearance gladGens the whole lanS
scapc. You hear his soft warble in every
field. He socially apprc aches your habits-
ton, and takes up his residence in your vi
cinity. ..... ..
The happiest bird of our spring, however
and one that rivals the European lark in my
estimation, ia the Bobincon, or Buboink, al
he is commonly called. He arrives at tina
choice portion of our year, which, in this lat
itude, answers to the description Of tn,
month of May, and laats until nearly th
middle of June. Earlier than this, winter i
| :t, nl hlirht b,
opening beauties of the year: and later thai
this, begin the parching, ard painting, an
disso!ving heats OF summer. But in this ge
NAL interval, nature is in all her FRESHNESS
and fragrance" :"the rains are over and gone
the flowers appear upon the earth, the tim
of the s:eg'ng Of birds is come, and the voic
of the turtle is heard in the land" The tree
are now in their fullest foliage and brightes
verdure; the woods are gay with the cluster
ed flowers of the laurel; the air is perfume
BY the sweet-bsier and the wild rose; tn
meadows are enameled with clover blossom:
while the young apple, the peach, and tn
plum begin to swell, and the cherry to glow
among the green leaves.
This is the chosen season Of revelry of tn
Boblink. He comes amidst the pomp an
fragrance Of the season; his life seems q
sensiblity and enjoyment, all song and SUI
shine. He is to be found in the soft bosom
of the freshest and sweetest meadows! ar
is most in sung, when the clover is in bio
som. He perches on the topmost twig Of
tree, or on some long aaun,ing weed, and
he rises and sink with the breeze, pours for,
succession cfrich t,nkling notes; crowdih
one upon another, like the outpouring mel
dy of the skylark, and possessing the sam
rapturous character. Sometimes he ptcht
from the summit Of tree, begins his son
as soon as he gets upon the wing and flutte
tremulousy down to the e,rth, as if owe
come with ecstasy at his own music. Som
times he is in pursuit of his paramour; alway
in full song, as il he would win her by
: melody; aud always with the same appea
ance of intoxication and delight.
Ofall the birds Of our groves and meadow
the Boblink was the envy OF my boyhood,-
He crossed my path in the sweetest seas'
of the year, when all nature called to Il