The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-11-05
THE SONG BIRD.

From out the recesses of a Grim
soning autumn wood came the sweet
est notes that ever left a trembling,
slender throat Of any feathered song
ster. Deep and rich they rose, and
Aoated in waves of cadence across
the pulsing air, and trailed off along
the horizon like the last whisper OF
some half forgotten song. They SEEM
ed to only gather melody as they
went, and to return to- the singer
made stronger and sadder IN their
contact with the world, but at the
same time they fell upon the unsus-
pecting ear Of mortals with not so
strange a note as when first trilled,
because they, in their short journey,
had met the blights Of earthly griefs,
the battling winds Of discouragement
and has scared above these in an
ecstasy too poignant to even dream
Of death, Poor little song; frail,
tiny melody that spread it's gossamer
wings in an effort to cheer and bright
en- mundane world of grabbing hu-
, manity, I'd leave the warm, red breast
of a stalwart, happy little creature,
pouring out a heartful Of silvery,
rollicking harmony, only to, at last,
beave pitiful sigh and fold its tired
wings in a silence that rests like an
awful pail upon the slayers.
This is what happened to expel the
blythe warbler from the green, ever
blooming dales of Halcyon Land.
A heavy goom settled down over
the earth; just when the little good
bye-to-summers marged the paths
with a fringe of white, the lonely,
unlovely old Man Of Snow and
Clouds Was making his way down to
earth and upon his arrival nothing
! would be bright. There would be no
sound Of laughter, no place for joy
in the world, and mortals would be
wrapped in a mist Of tears, from
which bondage there would be no re-
lief unless the warmth Of happiness
from a bird-song could be poured
forth upon tie listening ears Of sad
mortals. There was only one such
creature in all Halcyon Land that
possessed this wonderful capacity for
golden song, and he tapped his lit
tie, erie wings with willingness
that was pathetic in an eagerness TO
brave the dire dangers Of an un-
known world.
Like a crimson leaf he sailed to
earth, his slender throat swelling
with pent-up music. He sailed and
sailed through cons of = space and
limitless azure, catching here and
there for his song tone and deep in
donations and expressions that should
tell a tale of joy, and gladness and
which would dispel the :horrid gloom
that went il 80 wake Of the Old
Man Of Snow and Clouds.
His poor little wings were all a.
trenlble with the great flight he had
made, when at last he came III sight
Of the sorrowful world lying deep in
hateful silence, nowhere could he
find a place to rest his weary little
body. No park could he find, with
kindly, sheltering arms of leaf-eov-
cred boughs.
The roofs Of the houses were hard
and cold to tiny, pink feet that had
known only the soft bark Of trees,
AID once when he had but lighted on
the tw;g nf tree a sharp cracking
noise cane after a flash and report.
and. :crrnr- tricken. he once more
:pretd H. .ired little russet wings
and betonl!; himself to a clump Of
woods away from the heart Of the
town. And here, in these he sat
and rocked and poured out his soul
in golden measures. and with all his
might he sang, 50 that the song
might reach the ears of those for
whom he had come 10 endure this
The russet wings quivered. both with
pain and joy, the bright black eyes,
shone iridescentlv brilliant. and the
slender. beautiful throat seemed al
most bursting in an effort to send
the clear. rich notes rinein" "Ht