 | Wood-notes and Church-bells |  |
97
THE SMALL BIRDS' APPEAL.
All day we flit across your view,
Brown, black, and crimson breasted,
Yellow and blue, and speckled hue,
Purple and golden crested.
Brown, black, and crimson breasted,
Yellow and blue, and speckled hue,
Purple and golden crested.
We do our best to please your eye,
With colours brightly blending;
With fairy motion gliding by,
Or angel-like ascending.
With colours brightly blending;
With fairy motion gliding by,
Or angel-like ascending.
All day we strive to charm your ear
With concert of sweet singing;
And even when the stars appear
We keep the copses ringing.
With concert of sweet singing;
And even when the stars appear
We keep the copses ringing.
At times we waken in your heart
A thrill of soft emotion,
And into world-worn spirits dart
An impulse of devotion.
A thrill of soft emotion,
98
An impulse of devotion.
Faithful we stay the Winter through,
Although the snow storms bluster,
And trusting you, since we are true,
Around your homes we cluster.
Although the snow storms bluster,
And trusting you, since we are true,
Around your homes we cluster.
Or if we fly the North wind's sway,
Soon as the Spring is blooming,
Back o'er the sea we wing our way—
We know our time of coming.
Soon as the Spring is blooming,
Back o'er the sea we wing our way—
We know our time of coming.
We warble forth our music sweet,
We twitter, chirp, and chatter,
Or one poor note all day repeat—
It is our best, no matter!
We twitter, chirp, and chatter,
Or one poor note all day repeat—
It is our best, no matter!
Or if we cease our songs—to do
The duties Life imposes,—
Insects from flowers we clear for you,
The canker from the roses.
The duties Life imposes,—
Insects from flowers we clear for you,
The canker from the roses.
99
We guard the growth of tree and wood,
Or soon their grace would wither;
Seeking our food on leaf and bud,
Still flitting hither, thither.
Or soon their grace would wither;
Seeking our food on leaf and bud,
Still flitting hither, thither.
Oh, spare our useful, happy life
The voice and form which charm you;
And wage not an unnatural strife
With birds that cannot harm you.
The voice and form which charm you;
And wage not an unnatural strife
With birds that cannot harm you.
The dainty colours of our coat
Stain not with bloody rifle,
Nor the sweet note from merry throat
In dusty darkness stifle!
Stain not with bloody rifle,
Nor the sweet note from merry throat
In dusty darkness stifle!
Our Maker, be it ne'er forgot,
Appoints the birds man's teachers;
Oh, silence not, with murderous shot,
God's careless, tuneful creatures!
Appoints the birds man's teachers;
Oh, silence not, with murderous shot,
God's careless, tuneful creatures!
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