[140] Cher’-ish-ed, dear; loved.
[141] Trai’-tors, betrayers.
[142] Scorn’-ed despised; disdained
[143] State’-ly, magnificent; grand
[144] Fame, renown; glory.
[145] Scan, examine critically.
XIX. -THE BOBOLINK.
W. IRVING.
1. The happiest bird of our spring, and one that rivals[146] the European lark, in my estimation,[147] is the Bobolink. He arrives at that choice portion of the year, which, in this latitude, answers to the description[148] of the month of May, so often given by the poets. With us, it begins about the middle of May, and lasts until nearly the middle of June.
2. Earlier than this, winter is apt to return on its traces, and to blight[149] the opening beauties of the year; and later than this, begin the parching, and panting, and dissolving[150] heats of summer. But, in this genial[151] interval,[152] Nature is in all her freshness and fragrance; “the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle[153] is heard in our land.”