vinced 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 ' Educator ' 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
CARDINAL AND GRAY SQUIRREL
flew into a spruce tree and saluted us with a melodious ' Mizpah.' 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,—a song so copious, so free, so full of heavenly hope, that it seemed as if forever obliterated were the ' tragic memories of his race.'
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 ren-
