The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-27

ii - -
on the morning Of the snowstorm
which came the middle of March,
lAIN~II for our winter pensioners. the
- birds. had returned in full force
accompanied by some of the early spring
arrivals On the milder days just past.
they had come few of them. Their visits
were short and seemed more like little calls
of duty which etiquette demanded for past
favors received. than responses TO our in
vitation TO partake of the food we still
put out for them. Their various calls and
chirpS attracted attention when
saw there was nothing for our friends but
the shadoWdy remains OF the last piece of
suet. To this. the downy, ever-faithful
in all sorts of weather, was deVoJng nlnI-
self with his usual rhythmical energy. The
place that of long standing. and did not
like the monopoly. A piece of yesterdays
soup bone was placed in the box on the
tree, and chickadee and her mate were soon
appeased. Down they came in a whirl of
snow from the roof near by with a grateful
dee dee. dee" new piece of suet and
plenty of crumbs were soon added. Corn
was brought from the chicken house TO
spread in the redbird's particular feeding
place. for he seemed disappointed to find
that 1.-The cupboard was bare"
The white breasted and the red-breasted
nuthatches came many times and fingered
as in the wintry days. The English and
tree sparrows came in fiocks and ate the
crumbs with their usual gusto. The jun
Goes soon joined them, and the beautiful
song sparrow. that wintered in the adjon-
ing yard. came over for social bite with
its fellows. After IL had finished its repast
the song sparrow tried a few notes in the
tree above. Although lacking the ring of
bright days, the attempt at cheerfulnesS,
under such adverse circumstances was
worth much. The silky brown creeper
searched the Echen of the old cherry tree
for choice tidbits as 1t does nearly every
day. The bluejays did not find any nuts as
of old and had to be content with something
less pa!atable-Just payment, perhaps for
their greediness in the days when the
pantry was locked and the key was lost
for so long. The crooked-tailed titmouse
that we have known for months. remained
longer than usual and had with him a
jolly little company of his kind The black
bird. proud in his glossy spring suit
would not come down. The robin. with
the fuller crimson of the spring upon his
breast had been about the place for weeks
but we had never seen him the box until
that morning. He enjoyed our winter ar
engagements so we'll when he came 10 un-
derstand them that the tree as attrac-
tive TO him as il will be when the cherries
are ripe
We have had our first sight of that early
harbinger OF spring. the bird with the
sky on its breast" We have heard his
first liquid note which John Burroughs
says is the violet OF sound. and as well
come. to the ear. heard above the cold damp
earth. as its floral type 10 the eye a few
weeks later" While we welcomed the her
aids OF spring with JOY, the reunion on the
w.ntry March day gave us more exquisite
delight-delight accompanied by the not
unusual touch of pain. for the little feath-
cred creatures must have suffered discom-
fort from the storm
Dublin. Ind. A. II. e.