the song of the cardinal-第15部分

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continually　appeared　as　if　she　could　swallow　no　more；　yet　she　was

constantly　calling　for　food。



She　took　the　first　flight；　being　so　greedy　she　forgot　to　be

afraid；　and　actually　flew　to　a　neighbouring　thorn　tree　to　meet

the　Cardinal；　coming　with　food；　before　she　realized　what　she　had

done。　　For　once　gluttony　had　its　proper　reward。　　She　not　only

missed　the　bite；　but　she　got　her　little　self　mightily　well

scared。　　With　popping　eyes　and　fear…flattened　crest；　she　clung　to

the　thorn　limb；　shivering　at　the　depths　below；　and　it　was　the

greatest　comfort　when　her　brother　plucked　up　courage　and　came

sailing　across　to　her。　　But；　of　course；　she　could　not　be　expected

to　admit　that。　　When　she　saw　how　easily　he　did　it；　she　flared　her

crest；　turned　her　head　indifferently；　and　inquired　if　he　did　not

find　flying　a　very　easy　matter；　once　he　mustered　courage　to　try

it；　and　she　made　him　very　much　ashamed　indeed　because　he　had

allowed　her　to　be　the　first　to　leave　the　nest。　　From　the　thorn

tree　they　worked　their　way　to　the　dead　sycamore；　but　there　the

lack　of　foliage　made　them　so　conspicuous　that　their　mother　almost

went　into　spasms　from　fright；　and　she　literally　drove　them　back

to　the　sumac。



The　Cardinal　was　so　inordinately　proud；　and　made　such　a　brave

showing　of　teaching　them　to　fly；　bathe；　and　all　the　other　things

necessary　for　young　birds　to　know；　that　it　was　a　great　mercy　they

escaped　with　their　lives。　　He　had　mastered　many　lessons；　but　he

never　could　be　taught　how　to　be　quiet　and　conceal　himself。　　With

explosive　〃chips〃　flaming　and　flashing；　he　met　dangers　that　sent

all　the　other　birds　beside　the　shining　river　racing　to　cover。

Concealment　he　scorned；　and　repose　he　never　knew。



It　was　a　summer　full　of　rich　experience　for　the　Cardinal。　　After

these　first　babies　were　raised　and　had　flown；　two　more　nests　were

built；　and　two　other　broods　flew　around　the　sumac。　　By　fall　the

Cardinal　was　the　father　of　a　small　flock；　and　they　were　each　one

neat；　trim；　beautiful　river　birds。



He　had　lived　through　spring　with　its　perfumed　air；　pale　flowers；

and　burning　heart　hunger。　　He　had　known　summer　in　its　golden

mood；　with　forests　pungent　with　spicebush　and　sassafras；

festooned　with　wild　grape；　woodbine；　and　bittersweet；　carpeted

with　velvet　moss　and　starry　mandrake　peeping　from　beneath　green

shades；　the　never…ending　murmur　of　the　shining　river；　and　the

rich　fulfilment　of　love's　fruition。



Now　it　was　fall；　and　all　the　promises　of　spring　were

accomplished。　　The　woods　were　glorious　in　autumnal　tints。　　There

were　ripened　red　haws；　black　haws；　and　wild　grapes　only　waiting

for　severe　frosts；　nuts　rattling　down；　scurrying　squirrels；　and

the　rabbits'　flash　of　gray　and　brown。　　The　waysides　were　bright

with　the　glory　of　goldenrod；　and　royal　with　the　purple　of　asters

and　ironwort。　　There　was　the　rustle　of　falling　leaves；　the

flitting　of　velvety　butterflies；　the　whir　of　wings　trained

southward；　and　the　call　of　the　king　crow　gathering　his　followers。



Then　to　the　Cardinal　came　the　intuition　that　it　was　time　to　lead

his　family　to　the　orange　orchard。　　One　day　they　flamed　and　rioted

up　and　down　the　shining　river；　raced　over　the　corn　field；　and

tilted　on　the　sumac。　　The　next；　a　black　frost　had　stripped　its

antlered　limbs。　　Stark　and　deserted　it　stood；　a　picture　of

loneliness。



O　bird　of　wonderful　plumage　and　human…like　song！　W　hat　a　precious

thought　of　Divinity　to　create　such　beauty　and　music　for　our

pleasure！　　Brave　songster　of　the　flaming　coat；　too　proud　to　hide

your　flashing　beauty；　too　fearless　to　be　cautious　of　the　many

dangers　that　beset　you；　from　the　top　of　the　morning　we　greet　you；

and　hail　you　King　of　Birdland；　at　your　imperious　command：　〃See

here！　See　here！〃








End