the song of the cardinal-第4章

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

so　startlingly　red　as　to　be　a　wonder。



One　day　a　gentle　breeze　from　the　north　sprang　up　and　stirred　the

orange　branches；　wafting　the　heavy　perfume　across　the　land　and

out　to　sea；　and　spread　in　its　stead　a　cool；　delicate；　pungent

odour。　　The　Cardinal　lifted　his　head　and　whistled　an　inquiring

note。　　He　was　not　certain；　and　went　on　searching　for　slugs；　and

predicting　happiness　in　full　round　notes：　〃Good　Cheer！　Good

Cheer！〃　　Again　the　odour　swept　the　orchard；　so　strong　that　this

time　there　was　no　mistaking　it。　　The　Cardinal　darted　to　the

topmost　branch；　his　crest　flaring；　his　tail　twitching　nervously。

〃Chip！　Chip！〃　he　cried　with　excited　insistence；　〃Chip！　Chip！〃



The　breeze　was　coming　stiffly　and　steadily　now；　unlike　anything

the　Cardinal　ever　had　known；　for　its　cool　breath　told　of

ice…bound　fields　breaking　up　under　the　sun。　　Its　damp　touch　was

from　the　spring　showers　washing　the　face　of　the　northland。　　Its

subtle　odour　was　the　commingling　of　myriads　of　unfolding　leaves

and　crisp　plants；　upspringing；　its　pungent　perfume　was　the　pollen

of　catkins。



Up　in　the　land　of　the　Limberlost；　old　Mother　Nature；　with

strident　muttering；　had　set　about　her　annual　house　cleaning。　

With　her　efficient　broom；　the　March　wind；　she　was　sweeping　every

nook　and　cranny　clean。　　With　her　scrub…bucket　overflowing　with

April　showers；　she　was　washing　the　face　of　all　creation；　and　if

these　measures　failed　to　produce　cleanliness　to　her　satisfaction；

she　gave　a　final　polish　with　storms　of　hail。　　The　shining　river

was　filled　to　overflowing；　breaking　up　the　ice　and　carrying　a

load　of　refuse；　it　went　rolling　to　the　sea。　　The　ice　and　snow　had

not　altogether　gone；　but　the　long…pregnant　earth　was　mothering

her　children。　　She　cringed　at　every　step；　for　the　ground　was

teeming　with　life。　　Bug　and　worm　were　working　to　light　and

warmth。　Thrusting　aside　the　mold　and　leaves　above　them；　spring

beauties；　hepaticas；　and　violets　lifted　tender　golden…green

heads。　　The　sap　was　flowing；　and　leafless　trees　were　covered　with

swelling　buds。　Delicate　mosses　were　creeping　over　every　stick　of

decaying　timber。　　The　lichens　on　stone　and　fence　were　freshly

painted　in　unending　shades　of　gray　and　green。　　Myriads　of　flowers

and　vines　were　springing　up　to　cover　last　year's　decaying　leaves。



〃The　beautiful　uncut　hair　of　graves〃　was　creeping　over　meadow；

spreading　beside　roadways；　and　blanketing　every　naked　spot。



The　Limberlost　was　waking　to　life　even　ahead　of　the　fields　and

the　river。　　Through　the　winter　it　had　been　the　barest　and

dreariest　of　places；　but　now　the　earliest　signs　of　returning

spring　were　in　its　martial　music；　for　when　the　green　hyla　pipes；

and　the　bullfrog　drums；　the　bird　voices　soon　join　them。　　The

catkins　bloomed　first；　and　then；　in　an　incredibly　short　time；

flags；　rushes；　and　vines　were　like　a　sea　of　waving　green；　and

swelling　buds　were　ready　to　burst。　　In　the　upland　the　smoke　was

curling　over　sugar…camp　and　clearing；　in　the　forests　animals　were

rousing　from　their　long　sleep；　the　shad　were　starting　anew　their

never…ending　journey　up　the　shining　river；　peeps　of　green　were

mantling　hilltop　and　valley；　and　the　northland　was　ready　for　its

dearest　springtime　treasures　to　come　home　again。



From　overhead　were　ringing　those　first　glad　notes；　caught　nearer

the　Throne　than　those　of　any　other　bird；　〃Spring　o'　year！　Spring

o'　year！〃；　while　stilt…legged　little　killdeers　were　scudding

around　the　Limberlost　and　beside　the　river；　flinging　from

cloudland　their　〃Kill　deer！　Kill　deer！〃　call。　　The　robins　in　the

orchards　were　pulling　the　long　dried　blades　of　last　year's　grass

from　beneath　the　snow　to　line　their　mud…walled　cups；　and　the

bluebirds　were　at　the　hollow　apple　tree。　　Flat　on　the　top　rail；

the　doves　were　gathering　their　few　coarse　sticks　and　twigs

together。　　It　was　such　a　splendid　place　to　set　their　cradle。　　The

weatherbeaten；　rotting　old　rails　were　the　very　colour　of　the　busy

dove　mother。　　Her　red…rimmed　eye　fitted　into　the　background　like

a　tiny　scarlet　lichen　cup。　　Surely　no　one　would　ever　see　her！　　

The　Limberlost　and　shining　river；　the　fields　and　forests；　the

wayside　bushes　and　fences；　the　stumps；　logs；　hollow　trees；　even

the　bare　brown　breast　of　Mother　Earth；　were　all　waiting　to　cradle

their　own　again；　and　by　one　of　the　untold　miracles　each　would

return　to　its　place。



There　was　intoxication　in　the　air。　　The　subtle；　pungent；

ravishing　odours　on　the　wind；　of　unfolding　leaves；　ice…water

washed　plants；　and　catkin　pollen；　were　an　elixir　to　humanity。　

The　cattle　of　the　field　were　fairly　drunk　with　it；　and　herds；

dry…fed　during　the　winter；　were　coming　to　their　first　grazing

with　heads　thrown　high；　romping；　bellowing；　and　racing　like　wild

things。



The　north　wind；　sweeping　from　icy　fastnesses；　caught　this　odour

of　spring；　and　carried　it　to　the　orange　orchards　and　Everglades；

and　at　a　breath　of　it；　crazed　with　excitement；　the　Cardinal　went

flaming　through　the　orchard；　for　with　no　one　to　teach　him；　he

knew　what　it　meant。　　The　call　had　come。　　Holidays　were　over。



It　was　time　to　go　home；　time　to　riot　in　crisp　freshness；　time　to

go　courting；　time　to　make　love；　time　to　possess　his　own；　time　for

mating　and　nest…building。　　All　that　day　he　flashed　around；

nervous　with　dread　of　the　unknown；　and　palpitant　with　delightful

expectation；　but　with　the　coming　of　dusk　he　began　his　journey

northward。



When　he　passed　the　Everglades；　he　winged　his　way　slowly；　and

repeatedly　sent　down　a　challenging　〃Chip；〃　but　there　was　no

answer。　　Then　the　Cardinal　knew　that　the　north　wind　had　carried　a

true　message；　for　the　king　and　his　followers　were　ahead　of　him　on

their　way　to　the　Limberlost。　　Mile　after　mile；　a　thing　of　pulsing

fire；　he　breasted　the　blue…black　night；　and　it　was　not　so　very

long　until　he　could　discern　a　flickering　patch　of　darkness

sweeping　the　sky　before　him。　　The　Cardinal　flew　steadily　in　a

straight　sweep；　until　with　a　throb　of　triumph　in　his　heart；　he

arose　in　his　course；　and　from　far　overhead；　flung　down　a　boastful

challenge　to　the　king　and　his　followers；　as　he　sailed　above　them

and　was　lost　from　sight。



It　was　still　dusky　with　the　darkness　of　night　when　he　crossed　the

Limberlost；　dropping　low　enough　to　see　its　branches　laid　bare；　to

catch　a　gleam　of　green　in　its　swelling　buds；　and　to　hear　the

wavering　chorus　of　its　frogs。　　But　there　was　no　hesitation　in　his

flight。　　Straight　and　sure　he　winged　his　way　toward　the　shining

river；　and　it　was　only　a　few　more　miles　until　the　rolling　waters

of　its　springtime　flood　caught　his　eye。　　Dropping　precipitately；

he　plunged　his　burning　beak　into　the　loved　water；　then　he　flew

into　a　fine　old　stag　sumac　and　tucked　his　head　under　his　wing　for

a　short　rest。　　He　had　made　the　long　flight　in　one　unbroken　sweep；

and　he　was　sleepy。　　In　utter　content　he　ruffled　his　feathers　and

closed　his　eyes；　for　he　was　beside　the　shining　river；　and　it

would　be　another　season　before　the　orange　orchard　would　ring

again　with　his　〃Good　Cheer！　Good　Cheer！〃







Chapter　2



〃Wet　year！　Wet　year！〃　prophesied　the　Cardinal





The　sumac　seemed　to　fill　his　idea　of　a　perfect　location　from　the

very　first。　　He　perched　on　a　limb；　and　between　dressing　his

plumage　and　pecking　at　last　year's　sour　dried　berries；　he　sent

abroad　his　prediction。　　Old　Mother　Nature　verified　his　wisdom　by

sending　a　dashing　shower；　but　he　cared　not　at　all　for　a　wetting。

He　knew　how　to　turn　his　crimson　suit　into　the　most　perfect　of

water…proof　coats；　so　he　flattened　his　crest；　sleeked　his

feathers；　and　breasting　the　April　downpour；　kept　on　calling　for

rain。　　He　knew　he　would　appear　brighter　when　it　was　past；　and　he

seemed　to　know；　too；　that　every　day　of　sunshine　and　shower　would

bring　nearer　his　heart's　desire。



He　was　a　very　Beau　Brummel　while　he　waited。　　From　morning　until

night　he　bathed；　dressed　his　feathers；　sunned　himself；　fluffed

and　flirt