No pause in the rhythm of the Song Sparrow’s lay;

And I pondered and wondered as on flew the day:

“Is this high Art’s way?”

While still rolled his “swee-e-t, swee-e-t, bitter”—[4]

The philosophy of life, from a plain, little flitter.

Pond’ring I lingered and forgot me to eat,

A captive held fast in fair Nature’s retreat.

BLUEBIRD AND FAMILY.
Photo by the Author.

The Oven-bird graceful, misnamed “the preacher,”