Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-30

little sprite? His voice sounds now far.
now near. owing. doubtless, to the turning
of his head away from or toward US, or
to his being on the far or near side of some
tree or bunch Of foliage. All! there is
small bird the trunk of Il white oak.
cilnging close to the bark and progressing
upward by an uninterrupted series of quick
jerks. But, no, that cannot be the kinglet.
We look in vain for the yellow patch On
the back of the head; and his body is
brown and speckled, while the kinglet's,
We know, is plain olive green. Our little
climber Is evidently brown creeper, pur-
suing his monotonouS grind of life; in 81
lence, as 1t happens. AS he passes up the
tree occasionally concealed by an inter
vening barrier Of maroon foliage, lie carries
our vision up with him. until he brings it
to point where it is attracted by group
of chickadees, dashing about among the
leaves in their miniature grenadier garb.
They are also silent; but presently from one
of the rowing band, who is exploring a
neigh5oring tree, comes the beautiful song
of two very clear notes, which is such well
come music to our ears when the spring is
about to dawn How those pure tones flood
our hearts with memories and anticipa-
tons.
A Mite of n Bird.
But meantime the kinglet's note is per-
sistently dropping into consciousness.
At length we perceive him. little. thick
ball of feathers, in sapling not ten feet
away. How Industrious he is! Never quiet
for a moment Exploring one leaf or twis
after another, swinging down to examine
the underside of the small limb on which
he Is conducting his Investigations. reach
ing up on tiptoe to inspect leaf above his
head. perhaps swinging into the air and
holding himself there poised in humming
bird fashion, on rapidly f1uttering wings,
while he secures an insect at an otherwise
inaccessible point; all the while altering
that high-pitched note which is so elusive
that even now that we have him IN sight
we can scarcely feel sure that it proceeds
from him. There is a fascination about his
movements he darts about, now high.
now low, self-roised. urbane and exhibit
ing most engaging confidence in his hu-
man company. What a mite he is to brave
the zero weather that he must know by ex-
perience the winter will bring Not quite
two-thirds as big as an English sparrow.
he scarcely seems to have room in his body
for enough blood to keep him warm. But
perhaps he relies on his heavy clothing.
He is certainly very warmly wrapped, and,
small as he is, seems all great-coat.
Now he is off to pine in the semi-back-
ground, where he is swallowed from our
sight by the green and yellow foliage. The
pines are putting on fresh suits at this
time, the new green needles unceremon-
iously displacing the old ones, which
turning brown and dropping to the groun1
to form that soft carpet which Is so de-
lishtful under foot when pass through
a pine wood From behind this variegated
curtain the fine-drawn note continues to
come to our ears. But have trans
ferred desultory attention TO a downy
wcodpecker, whose tapping has attracted
rs, and the kinglets note is allowed to re-
tire into the unresolved undertones of the
forest from which it emerged.
And thus is cur interest waited from OBJ
ject to object by the light breeze of fancy,
while each moment seems to belong 10
eternity rather than time. Finally we rise
those pleasures which the forest always
yields to the leisurely explorer, our ma
lures still under the spell of the beneficent
sorcereSS.<
Rich Contrasts.
What fresh, rich green the MOSES and
laurels now showi Contrast with the faded
and pallid tints, as well as the brilliant
reds about them gives them a beauty they
have not had all summer. The winter be-
longs to them. and they are preparing TO
take possession. The pipsissewas and py-
rolas. too, hold up their heads above the
flood of brown leaves that has assaiIed
them, as though proud of their kinship
with the laurel, on which frost and snow
can produce TO effect but to make it
brighter and more sturdy looking. Young
shoots from trees and herbs that were cut
down during the year are also green, and
many of the latter are blooming freely 1t
seems as though the nourishment supplied
by the roots in suitable proportion to the
original plant, and forced by its desIruc-
ton to seek an outlet in a much narrower
channel. acquires such vigor that the
new shoot Will remain green blossom
when others of its kind have turned &C lor
or gone to seed. Here Is a tall chestnut
from the root of which grew a small Off
spring, which was for some reason chopped
down last summer, and which has sent a
new shoot several feet into the air. This
younsster Is as green and fresh az though
midsummer were still In full sway while
us grandfather, If we may so describe the
original tree, Is brown and half leafess.
Halloi what have the crows discovered?
One just sounded a peculiar note and in
stantly they came fiocking from all direc-
tons. Now they are making perfectly
continuous racket over in the quarter from
which the note of alarm, or discovery
came We make our way to the scene Of
disturbance, and as we near 1t an owl sud
denly energies from the clump of pines
with his tormentors at his tail He flies
low. and soon perches again. The crows
settle about him and proceed to make life
as uncomfortable for him as they know how
Ihey do not attack him in great numbers
the majority seemingly content to perch
Fear by and add to his discomfort by
copious contributions to the d:n Soon he
makes another effort to escape, and is off
with the noisy crowd in hot pursuit We
dentally noticing the song of a chickadee
a handsome cedar with its heightened
green, and a bright group OF partridge
berries Finally. whether because os our
observed presence or because the sport has
become tiresome. the crows silently dis
perse. and we are left alone beside brown
gully. on the edge of which is 4 small bunch
of ST. Andrews cross, very attractive in
its deep maroon autumnal dress.
As the shadows Fall.
We stop to admire Its beauty and the
curious manner IN which the leaves that
grow both sides of the fruit fold together
over 1t, as though to give 1t an added pro-
lection. Then we pass on to other scenes
and events. And as the afternoon shadows
begin to fall perceptibly asiant We bid fare
well to this realm In which idle fancy has
ruled, and where we have breathed 1.-THE
atmosphere Of fable and romance" as John
Burroughs expresses 1t. and return to the
everyday world, refreshed in mind and
body, end with a rich store Of memories to
add to cur hoard.
BY the middle Of the month the glow of
the autumn has faded. A few late-turning
trees, principally oaks. are yet cleaning
with bright fame, but the others are
brown or bare. But though the varied tints