Page:Near nature's heart; a volume of verse (IA nearnaturesheart00jack).pdf/20

 YOUNG SCREECH OWL.

Photo by Rev. Wallace Rogers.

Then Wisdom's proud bird, that old mystical fake, While breakfasting late on a daring young snake,

Cried "Boo to y-o-u, hoot for y-o-u! Who-whoo—are-y-o-u?" Till down in my heart I felt humbled anew.

But hope was revived by an echo of Night— For Night has her echoes and pledges of Light—

"You can, if you will, a high mission fulfill." Insistently whistled the lone Whip-poor-will.

Then all grew still O'er vale and hill And the echo came back: "You can, if you will."

The sun poured forth his flood of pure gold On Nature's great chorister birdlings of old,

When wide circling throngs made the welkin resound With the liveliest chatter, "Let joy go round."

Then flashed through the air a ruby tinged light, Like an arrow of glory soon lost to my sight.

When lo! it returned—a bird that ne'er sings, Though his music is borne in the hum of his wings:

"I fly, yet rest,     In swiftest quest,      Of flowers best,  With their sweetest, nectared off'rings."

HUMMING BIRD.

By F. Schuyler Matthews.

And my heart sang out with a jubilant cry, "O for poise and feasting in tension so high."

While the Humming bird sipped his choicest wine, The musicians came to a sudden pause; Each singer's eye was a-gaze like mine— And the wonder of bird-land received their applause.

The fun-makers followed, the gay Bobolinks, With comical solo and musical kinks!