The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-01-18

ey orIvun wnsprLL HoLMEs-

az oIrvmn WENDELL HoLMEs-
.rx....aeh my north window, in the wintry weather-
A. sary orfel on the riyer-shore-
r. sxnss.h die sea-fow as they mock togetner,
WpeTe late the boatman flashed his dripping oar
sshc Gull, high floating, like a sloop unaden,
LED the loose water watt him Ne Il win
-sS,e daok round breasted as a rustic maiden,
PsddScs ana plunges, busy, busy stiii'
n go. me solemn eulls in council sitting
(s. some broad ioo-noe, bordering long and late,
<NI,iie overhead the homo-bound ducks are hitting
Aaa Ieave the tardy conclave in debate.
sYoac weehty que tons in their breasts revolving
Whose deeper meaning science never learns,
StSlI al come reverend ELDERS look dissolving,
The speechlees senate silently adjourns.
Rsut whom along the waves the shrhl northeaster
shrsesns through the laboring coasters shrouds
"a Bewarei"
me pale bird, kindliag like Christmas feaster
When como Wild chorus shakes the yinous air,
gra,,s from the leaden wave in fierce rejoicing,
Feels heavens dumb lightning thrill his torpid
nerves.
NOW ON the blast his whistiing plumage poising.
Now wheeling, whirling in fantastic curves.
such is our gull gentleman of leisure,
Iess neshed than feathered; bagged, youT md
dis virtue silence his employment pleasure;
Not had to look at, and not good for much.
Nf,at OF our duck He has some hgh-bred cous-
Hia Grace the canvas-back, My Lord the Brant-
4sds and Anser-both served up by dozens,
AZ Boston's Rocher, half way TO Nahant.
As for himself, he seems alert and thriving
Gr,ibs up living somehow-what, who knows
Crabs mussels? weeds Look quick there's
one just diving
fi0p1 Splash his white breast glistens-down
be goes!
sud while he's under just about minute
I take advantage of the fact 10 say
T!is dsily carcass has no virtue in 10
The cunning idiots worthless hire to pay.
aEe knows you "sportsmen" from suburban alleys,
Stretched under seaweed in the treacherous
punt;
RuoWs every lazy, shiftless lout that sallies
Forth to waste pOwder-as he says, to "hunt."
watch you with patient satisfaction,
Well pleased to discount your predestined luck
The aoat that figures in your sly transaction
Will carry back goose, but not q duck.
.;shycwd is our bird; not easy to outwit him
Sharp is the outlook of those pin-head eyes;
'ShH, he is mortal and shot may hit him,
Ono cannot always miss him If he tries.
z@,S! there's young one, dreaming not of dan
ger;
Scss fiat log come floating down the stream,
iStanes undismayed upon the harmless stranger;
All were all strangers harmless as they seem
EIa6eG! eaden shower his breast has shattered
Vainly he hutters, not again to rise;
ttiiE soft, white pumes along the waves are scat
tered;
FJclFless the wing that brayed the tempest lies
YIe secs his comrades high above him flying
To seek their nests among the island reeds
Stwug is their flight; all lonely he is lying
Washed by the crimsoned water as he bleeds.
~ Thou who carest for the failing sparrow,
Canst Thou the sinless sufferers pang forget
Or lie Thy dread account-book's page 30 narrow
It's one long column scores Thy creatures debt 7
t'oor gentle guest, by nature kindly cherished,
world grows dark with thee in binding death
ono little gasp-thy universe has persisted,
Wrecked by the idle thief who stole thy breath
rs fhis the whole sad story of creation,
Lived 10y its breath Ing nyrads DER and DER
Quo glimpse Of day, then black annihilation-
taanltt passage TO a sunless shore?
'jive back our faith, we mystery-soving lynxes!
Robe us once more in heaven-aspiring creeds
Happier was dreaming Egypt with her sphynxes
The stony convent with its cross and beads?
fHow often gazing where bird reposee
locked on the waveets, drifting with the tide,
~ lose myself in strange metempsychosis
And float a sea-fowl at a sea-fowls side.
Erom rain, hail, snow, in feathery mantle mufied
Caear-eyed, strong-limbed, with keenest sense tc
near
Ny mate soft murmuring, who with plumes un.
ruffied,
Whereer wander still is nesting near
sraoe all unmeasured, unrecorded time:
Whale seen with inward eye moves on before me
thoughts pictured train in wordless pantomime
a voice recalls me.--From my window turning
End myself plumeless biped still;
No beak, no claws no sign of wings discerninp-
Ia fact, with nothing bird-like but my quill
Atlantic Monthly.