Jest rain and snow! and rain again!
And dribble! drip! and blow!
Then snow! and thaw! and slush! and then
Some more rain and snow!
This morning I was 'most afeared
To wake up--when, I jing!
I seen the sun shine out and heerd
The first bluebird of spring!
Mother she'd raised the winder some;
And in acrost the orchard come,
Soft as an angel's wing,
A breezy, treesy, beesy hum,
Too sweet fer anything!
The winter's shroud was rent apart--
The sun burst forth in glee--
And when _that bluebird_ sung, my heart
Hopped out o' bed with me!
--_Riley._
[Illustration: FROM COL. CHI. ACAD. SCIENCES.
SWIFT FOX.
1/4 Life-size.
COPYRIGHT 1899,
NATURE STUDY PUB. CO., CHICAGO.]