The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-10-13
THE MOCKING BIRD,

tribe, whose native home in the south is
made joyous by its ever varying voice, has
recently been suppostitiously decried in the
Atlantic Monthly A clever article en-.
titled " Might Birds which appeared in
that magazine, alludes to their miraculous
concentration of sweet sounds, in very eau
tious terms Of praise, and then presumes
without personal experience on which to
found an opinion; that the mockinglbird, as
musician, is inferior to the English night
ingale. This admission we take to be
treason to one Of our American institu-
sions,' and the readiness, or rather the 60
ing out Of the way to make invidious com.
parison, is indicative of the foreign atmos.
Phere,' which prevades Boston, and which
overwhelm it with destruc ton, as were
{ the cities Of the plain if it were not for
Lot of good Christians who live in its
midst, prominent among which are acorn
and other patriarchal saints. But to the
birds. The nightingale deserves all that
has been said and sung Of it; it is classic
frCsa the illusions made to it by the best
British poets, anI herein lies really its i'm
meuse popularity, for without such endorse
ment, it never could have had it's vide
spread popularity in this country. But
the mocking bird is its superior. The
charge that it is mere mimic is false
To be sure the mocking bird plays Old
Nick with bis fellow wood companions; he
deranges all their harmonies, is in fact a
very Puck of mischief, and seems to de.
light in annoying his fellow warblers, and
in confusing their best laid plans; but
there are times when the mockiug-bird
tires of his own initiative exhuberauce, and
sets down with soul filled With himself
to pour out upon creation his songs Of
heavenly praise. On these occasions, the
efforts of the English nightingale Sink into
mere prettiuess; they are the sonnets of
Shenstore, while the mocking.bird is a
pastoral Collins, an at the same time as
sublime "a Homer. We have seen the
bird in the quiet midnight of southern
sky, when the moon was decl,ng in its full
tide Of spIendor, select some dead limb
near the house, and after going through
various eccentric motions, as if preparing
for its grateful task, it would turn it's little
head towards heaven, as if for inspiration,
and commence pouring out its song Of
alteration and praise. Tie levi,y and ab
solute rascalhy of its daylight revels were
gone; it was now seemingly an inspired
eo.ce, and for hours it would make the sur.
founding groves echo with its wonderful
compositions. Sometimes commencing
with An original composition in which all
the feathered songsters were represented,
yet surpassed. it dwet upon their inferior
strains until they formed back ground for
ITS expression, then would pour forth such all
overflow of notes that the listener, ih spite
OF himself, is led to believe that sotne i'm.
mortal and blessed spirit is struggling in
the effort 10 make divine communication
with the world. You listen-you are charm
ed-next, you are absorbed, and then in the
astoDishment and admiration, you become
superstit;o~s and absolutely alarmeJ-you
think that tho bird is deiusion, that the
strains yoa hear are from tile inyis;Jle
!scorld-that they are prophecies hints
oractes-,carn;a9s-- from the land
Of dreams. Such is the effect of the
music of the mocking bird in its wild home.
on the most unpoetical mind-it absorbs,
astonishes-aad fills with dreamy fear.--
The English nightingale at best merely
6lls one with admiration-its morning sa-
lutte is as happy in its time of expression,
as its harmony is beautiful and enchanting,
but nothing more. The mocking-Lird equals
all this, and then aseends TO higher sphere,
reaching the moral sublime.-Spiris Of the
Times.
SATURDAY MIGHT.