The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-05-01
THE BLUE BIRD.
A Study OF the Feathered Harbinger of
Spring.

A Study OF the Feathered Harbinger of
Spring.
Zone swallow does not make a sum-
mer," but ore tiny blue bird on frosty
March morning, swaying and darling
among the lcatless shrubbery and alight-
ing here end there on fences and
hedges, lifting his CHEEKY chirp all the
while in brave and hopeful promise. can
almost "make sunshine in shady
place" He is the truest of all prophets,
ground hogs may prevaricate and Sig
nal Services fall into grievous errors,
but the blue bird is deep in the arcana
of Natures wonder-book, and what he
says come true.
While the brown earth is furrowed
with ice and the snow lies on it in soiled
patches like catered coverlet; while
the winter fires are Still aglow upon the
hearth, and the pane still embellished
with fantastic frost tracery, this bright
hued herald flies straight down out of
the sky like flake of the summer
heaven to tell us his joyful story. Far
out along the country lanes and high
ways he has told it over and over. and
now he fits among smoky chimneys
and stony pavements, where, like all
true prophets. he raises an unheeded
voice amid the worlds clamor. and his
note of hippy warning is drowned and
disregarded. Yet none the less does
he look back bravely and nod sweet
assurance rs he skins over the house.
tops and sails away and away, bearing
his message to the realms of the frozen
North.
1t matters not if the winds are whist
ling and the clouds lowering and the
atmosphere r.my and chill-''Twit,
twill! he cries; Il hear the seed-shells
bursting and the grass growing; l can
see deep down into the dark mold, and
the blades are pushing it aside, and are
crowding. crowding 10 the light.
hear the million, million voices of the
leaves crying for the new nth, and the
whisperings of all the flower secrets in
the under world. see the first faint,
soft change that steals upon the worn
face of Mother Earth break magically
into royal splendor of gold and green.
of bloomy pink and purple; the lilac
clusters and the slender lily spires
throng the garden spaces; the wood
violets are awake, and the starry daisies
are springing in the tender grass.
"A little later and my tribe who
come after me, and to whose voices our
Maker has given more tuneful melodies
than to mine, will be thrilling the wood
land silences with their songs of happy
fulfillment and in the tremulous shad-
ows of the young leaves the mother
birds will brood over the notified eggs
in the quiet nests. can scent the de-
licious fragrance of fresh rain on the
moVn grass, and know that by
and by the star-lamps will burn clear
and still through the swiftly
passing summer nights. The west
wind is on its way to frolic with the
bleating lambs on the hillsides, and the
south winds, languorous and heavy
with rich perfumes, is blowing across
the summer seas from spice islands afar
of. Chirrup! chirrup! l know it all
the mysteries of earth and air and sky
are unfolded to me-all. all! and 1 am
the first to bring the wonderful tidings
of the miracle being wrought beneath
your needless feet and before your I'M
seeing eyes. Take heart and hope, be
of good cheer, for must away to tell
the lands it is coming, coming. COM
ingr'
What an overlooking heart he has.
What sunny, mellow radiance brims
it up like generous beaker of tangible
warmth and summer shine! If he only
possessed by right divine the note of the
nightingale. what song he might pour
forth upon the enchanted world, culver
ing with passionate expectation, rapt
and dreamful with the spirit of prophe-
cies sweeter even than cong can make
them. But, alas, he may only flutter
his brilliant wings and swing to and
fro with twitter and chirp, for he is of
the great wordiess company, .'whO die
with all their music in them"
So it is the blue bird has a message
and meaning when we listen well and
believe that all he says comes true
Louisville C0urter-J0uTs1l