St. Nicholas/Volume 40/Number 4/Birds of the Year

BIRDS OF THE YEAR

THE BLUEBIRD (Spring) When the snow is vanishing, And the sun is banishing Ice and snow, that held the earth in thrall; Then, without one word of warning, Early on some breezy morning, We are wakened by the bluebird’s call: “Come along, With a song! Life and love together Bring the light Out of night, And clear the cloudiest weather!”	THE BOBOLINK (Summer) When the sky is bluest blue, And the clouds are whitest white, And the meadows laugh anew, With a wide-awake delight, Comes bobolink a-liting The lovely ways along— If e’er a leaf were wilting, ’T would brighten at his song. Says bobolink, “Don’t you think There ’s a kink In the minds of any Who can stay glum to-day? Anyway, Hope there are not many!”

BOB-WHITE (Autumn) When the days are growing shorter, And the nights are growing chill, And the green turns red and gold, In the wood, and on the wold, O’er the meadow, and the hill, Then, to hearts for summer sad, Sounds a message brave and glad: ' “All ’s light, All ’s bright, All ’s right, Bob-white.”’	THE CHICKADEE (Winter) When the air is filled with snowing, And the stormy winds are blowing, And every flower has been hidden long, There ’s a merry little neighbor Comes to cheer us in our labor With a very merry, cheery, little song. “Chickadee-dee !” says he; “Never mind me!” says he; “Let it snow, Let it blow to and fro, For I know With me ’t will agree!” says he. Minnie Leona Upton.