Page:Bird-lore Vol 01.djvu/98

84 that no hostilities were intended, he gave a long, trustful look into the face of his benefactress and flew to her feet.

A gray squirrel frisking by stopped at the lunch-counter and seized an cracker. The novel sensation of an uncaged bird within touch, where one might note the lovely shading of his plumage as one notes a flower, was memorable; but a sweeter surprise was in store. As we left the house, having made obeisance to his eminence the Cardinal, the bird

flew into a spruce tree and saluted us with a melodious Then, as if reading the longing of our hearts, he opened his bright bill, and a song came forth such as never before enraptured the air of a New England March,&mdash;a song so copious, so free, so full of heavenly hope, that it seemed as if forever obliterated were the As March advanced, several changes in the Cardinal were noted by his ever-watchful friends. He made longer trips abroad, returning tired and hungry. The restlessness of the unsatisfied heart was plainly his. His long, sweet, interpolating whistle, variously