the song of the cardinal-第3章

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beautiful　than　on　that　perfect　autumn　day。



With　his　feathers　pressed　closely；　the　Cardinal　alighted　on　a

willow；　and　leaned　to　look；　quivering　with　excitement　and

uttering　explosive　〃chips〃；　for　there　he　was；　face　to　face　with　a

big　redbird　that　appeared　neither　peaceful　nor　timid。　　He　uttered

an　impudent　〃Chip〃　of　challenge；　which；　as　it　left　his　beak；　was

flung　back　to　him。　　The　Cardinal　flared　his　crest　and　half　lifted

his　wings；　stiffening　them　at　the　butt；　the　bird　he　was　facing

did　the　same。　　In　his　surprise　he　arose　to　his　full　height　with　a

dexterous　little　side　step；　and　the　other　bird　straightened　and

side…stepped　exactly　with　him。　　This　was　too　insulting　for　the

Cardinal。　　Straining　every　muscle；　he　made　a　dash　at　the　impudent

stranger。



He　struck　the　water　with　such　force　that　it　splashed　above　the

willows；　and　a　kingfisher；　stationed　on　a　stump　opposite　him；

watching　the　shoals　for　minnows；　saw　it。　　He　spread　his　beak　and

rolled　forth　rattling　laughter；　until　his　voice　reechoed　from

point　to　point　down　the　river。　　The　Cardinal　scarcely　knew　how　he

got　out；　but　he　had　learned　a　new　lesson。　　That　beautiful；

shining；　creeping　thing　was　water；　not　thick；　tepid；　black　marsh

water；　but　pure；　cool；　silver　water。　　He　shook　his　plumage；

feeling　a　degree　redder　from　shame；　but　he　would　not　be　laughed

into　leaving。　　He　found　it　too　delightful。　　In　a　short　time　he

ventured　down　and　took　a　sip；　and　it　was　the　first　real　drink　of

his　life。　　Oh；　but　it　was　good！



When　thirst　from　the　heat　and　his　long　flight　was　quenched；　he

ventured　in　for　a　bath；　and　that　was　a　new　and　delightful

experience。　　How　he　splashed　and　splashed；　and　sent　the　silver

drops　flying！　How　he　ducked　and　soaked　and　cooled　in　that

rippling　water；　in　which　he　might　remain　as　long　as　he　pleased

and　splash　his　fill；　for　he　could　see　the　bottom　for　a　long

distance　all　around；　and　easily　could　avoid　anything　attempting

to　harm　him。　　He　was　so　wet　when　his　bath　was　finished　he

scarcely　could　reach　a　bush　to　dry　and　dress　his　plumage。



Once　again　in　perfect　feather；　he　remembered　the　bird　of　the

water；　and　returned　to　the　willow。　　There　in　the　depths　of　the

shining　river　the　Cardinal　discovered　himself；　and　his　heart

swelled　big　with　just　pride。　　Was　that　broad　full　breast　his？　

Where　had　he　seen　any　other　cardinal　with　a　crest　so　high　it

waved　in　the　wind？　　How　big　and　black　his　eyes　were；　and　his

beard　was　almost　as　long　and　crisp　as　his　father's。　　He　spread

his　wings　and　gloated　on　their　sweep；　and　twisted　and　flirted　his

tail。　　He　went　over　his　toilet　again　and　dressed　every　feather　on

him。　　He　scoured　the　back　of　his　neck　with　the　butt　of　his　wings；

and　tucking　his　head　under　them；　slowly　drew　it　out　time　after

time　to　polish　his　crest。　　He　turned　and　twisted。　　He　rocked　and

paraded；　and　every　glimpse　he　caught　of　his　size　and　beauty

filled　him　with　pride。　　He　strutted　like　a　peacock　and　chattered

like　a　jay。



When　he　could　find　no　further　points　to　admire；　something　else

caught　his　attention。　　When　he　〃chipped〃　there　was　an　answering

〃Chip〃　across　the　river；　certainly　there　was　no　cardinal　there；

so　it　must　be　that　he　was　hearing　his　own　voice　as　well　as　seeing

himself。　　Selecting　a　conspicuous　perch　he　sent　an　incisive

〃Chip！〃　across　the　water；　and　in　kind　it　came　back　to　him。　　Then

he　〃chipped〃　softly　and　tenderly；　as　he　did　in　the　Limberlost　to

a　favourite　little　sister　who　often　came　and　perched　beside　him

in　the　maple　where　he　slept；　and　softly　and　tenderly　came　the

answer。　　Then　the　Cardinal　understood。　　〃Wheat！　Wheat！　Wheat！〃　

He　whistled　it　high；　and　he　whistled　it　low。　　〃Cheer！　Cheer！

Cheer！〃　　He　whistled　it　tenderly　and　sharply　and　imperiously。　

〃Here！　Here！　Here！〃　　At　this　ringing　command；　every　bird；　as　far

as　the　river　carried　his　voice；　came　to　investigate　and　remained

to　admire。　Over　and　over　he　rang　every　change　he　could　invent。　

He　made　a　gallant　effort　at　warbling　and　trilling；　and　then；　with

the　gladdest　heart　he　ever　had　known；　he　burst　into　ringing　song：

〃Good　Cheer！　Good　Cheer！　Good　Cheer！〃



As　evening　came　on　he　grew　restless　and　uneasy；　so　he　slowly

winged　his　way　back　to　the　Limberlost；　but　that　day　forever

spoiled　him　for　a　swamp　bird。　　In　the　night　he　restlessly　ruffled

his　feathers；　and　sniffed　for　the　breeze　of　the　meadows。　　He

tasted　the　corn　and　the　clear　water　again。　　He　admired　his　image

in　the　river；　and　longed　for　the　sound　of　his　voice；　until　he

began　murmuring；　〃Wheat！　Wheat！　Wheat！〃　in　his　sleep。　　In　the

earliest　dawn　a　robin　awoke　him　singing；　〃Cheer　up！　Cheer　up！〃

and　he　answered　with　a　sleepy　〃Cheer！　Cheer！　Cheer！〃　　Later　the

robin　sang　again　with　exquisite　softness　and　tenderness：　〃Cheer

up；　Dearie！　　Cheer　up；　Dearie！　Cheer　up！　Cheer　up！　Cheer！〃　　The

Cardinal；　now　fully　awakened；　shouted　lustily；　〃Good　Cheer！　Good

Cheer！〃　　and　after　that　it　was　only　a　short　time　until　he　was　on

his　way　toward　the　shining　river。　　It　was　better　than　before；　and

every　following　day　found　him　feasting　in　the　corn　field　and

bathing　in　the　shining　water；　but　he　always　returned　to　his

family　at　nightfall。



When　black　frosts　began　to　strip　the　Limberlost；　and　food　was

almost　reduced　to　dry　seed；　there　came　a　day　on　which　the　king

marshalled　his　followers　and　gave　the　magic　signal。　　With　dusk　he

led　them　southward；　mile　after　mile；　until　their　breath　fell

short；　and　their　wings　ached　with　unaccustomed　flight；　but

because　of　the　trips　to　the　river；　the　Cardinal　was　stronger　than

the　others；　and　he　easily　kept　abreast　of　the　king。　　In　the　early

morning；　even　before　the　robins　were　awake；　the　king　settled　in

the　Everglades。　　But　the　Cardinal　had　lost　all　liking　for　swamp

life；　so　he　stubbornly　set　out　alone；　and　in　a　short　time　he　had

found　another　river。　　It　was　not　quite　so　delightful　as　the

shining　river；　but　still　it　was　beautiful；　and　on　its　gently

sloping　bank　was　an　orange　orchard。　　There　the　Cardinal　rested；

and　found　a　winter　home　after　his　heart's　desire。



The　following　morning；　a　golden…haired　little　girl　and　an　old　man

with　snowy　locks　came　hand　in　hand　through　the　orchard。　　The

child　saw　the　redbird　and　immediately　claimed　him；　and　that　same

day　the　edict　went　forth　that　a　very　dreadful　time　was　in　store

for　any　one　who　harmed　or　even　frightened　the　Cardinal。　　So　in

security　began　a　series　of　days　that　were　pure　delight。　　The

orchard　was　alive　with　insects；　attracted　by　the　heavy　odours；

and　slugs　infested　the　bark。　　Feasting　was　almost　as　good　as　in

the　Limberlost；　and　always　there　was　the　river　to　drink　from　and

to　splash　in　at　will。



In　those　days　the　child　and　the　old　man　lingered　for　hours　in　the

orchard；　watching　the　bird　that　every　day　seemed　to　grow　bigger

and　brighter。　　What　a　picture　his　coat；　now　a　bright　cardinal

red；　made　against　the　waxy　green　leaves！　　How　big　and　brilliant

he　seemed　as　he　raced　and　darted　in　play　among　the　creamy

blossoms！　　How　the　little　girl　stood　with　clasped　hands

worshipping　him；　as　with　swelling　throat　he　rocked　on　the　highest

spray　and　sang　his　inspiring　chorus　over　and　over：　〃Good　Cheer！

Good　Cheer！〃　　Every　day　they　came　to　watch　and　listen。　　They

scattered　crumbs；　and　the　Cardinal　grew　so　friendly　that　he

greeted　their　coming　with　a　quick　〃Chip！　Chip！〃　while　the

delighted　child　tried　to　repeat　it　after　him。　　Soon　they　became

such　friends　that　when　he　saw　them　approaching　he　would　call

softly　〃Chip！　Chip！〃　and　then　with　beady　eyes　and　tilted　head

await　her　reply。



Sometimes　a　member　of　his　family　from　the　Everglades　found　his

way　into　the　orchard；　and　the　Cardinal；　having　grown　to　feel　a

sense　of　proprietorship；　resented　the　intrusion　and　pursued　him

like　a　streak　of　flame。　　Whenever　any　straggler　had　this

experience；　he　returned　to　the　swamp　realizing　that　the　Cardinal

of　the　orange　orchard　was　almost　twice　his　size　and　strength；　and

so　startlingly　red　as　to　be　a　wonder。



One　day　a　ge