Poured forth despair’s sure antidote,

No leafy June hears sweeter note—

“Tsip-twis-ch-e-e-e cheerily-cheerily-dare”—

The essence of unspoken prayer.

—Lynn Tew Sprague, in Bird-Lore.

THE CHICKADEE

When piped a tiny voice hard by,

Gay and polite, a cheerful cry,

Chic-chickadee-dee! saucy note

Out of sound heart and merry throat,