Most every person thinks that, while my actions are very pretty and
attractive, and speak much in my favor, I can only really say, _Coo-o,
Coo-o_, which they also think does not mean anything at all. Well, I
just thought I would undeceive them by writing you a letter. Many grown
up people fancy that we birds cannot express ourselves because we don't
know very much. Of course, there is a good reason why they have this
poor opinion of us. They are so busy with their own private concerns
that they forget that there are little creatures like ourselves in the
world who, if they would take a little time to become acquainted with
them, would fill their few hours of leisure with a sweeter recreation
than they find in many of their chosen outings. A great English poet,
whose writings you will read when you get older, said you should look
through Nature up to Nature's God. What did he mean? I think he had us
birds in his mind, for it is through a study of our habits, more perhaps
than that of the voiceless trees or the dumb four-footed creatures
that roam the fields, that your hearts are opened to see and admire
real beauty. We birds are the true teachers of faith, hope, and
charity,--faith, because we trust one another; hope, because, even when
our mother Nature seems unkind, sending the drifting snow and the bitter
blasts of winter, we sing a song of summer time; and charity, because we
are never fault finders.
I believe, without knowing it, I have been telling you about myself and
my mate. We Doves are very sincere, and every one says we are constant.
If you live in the country, children, you must often hear our voices. We
are so tender and fond of each other that we are looked upon as models
for children, and even grown-up folks. My mate does not build a very
nice nest--only uses a few sticks to keep the eggs from falling out--but
she is a good mother and nurses the little ones very tenderly. Some
people are so kind that they build for us a dove cote, supply us with
wheat and corn, and make our lives as free from care and danger as they
can. Come and see us some day, and then you can tell whether my picture
is a good one. The artist thinks it is and he certainly took lots of
pains with it.
Now, if you will be kind to all birds, you will find me, in name only,