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to see if they can hit it。 Time was when trees an' underbrush
were full o' birds an' squirrels； any amount o' rabbits； an' the
fish fairly crowdin' in the river。 I used to kill all the quail
an' wild turkeys about here a body needed to make an appetizing
change； It was always my plan to take a little an' leave a
little。 But jest look at it now。 Surprise o' my life if I get a
two…pound bass。 Wild turkey gobblin' would scare me most out of
my senses； an'； as for the birds； there are jest about a fourth
what there used to be； an' the crops eaten to pay for it。 I'd do
all I'm tryin' to for any bird； because of its song an' colour；
an' pretty teeterin' ways； but I ain't so slow but I see I'm paid
in what they do for me。 Up go these signs； an' it won't be a
happy day for anybody I catch trespassin' on my birds。〃
Maria studied the signs meditatively。 〃You shouldn't be forced
to put 'em up；〃 she said conclusively。 〃If it's been decided 'at
it's good for 'em to be here； an' laws made to protect 'em；
people ought to act with some sense； an' leave them alone。 I
never was so int'rested in the birds in all my life； an' I'll
jest do a little lookin' out myself。 If you hear a spang o' the
dinner bell when you're out in the field； you'll know it means
there's some one sneakin' 'round with a gun。〃
Abram caught Maria； and planted a resounding smack on her cheek；
where the roses of girlhood yet bloomed for him。 Then he filled
his pockets with crumbs and grain； and strolled to the river to
set the Cardinal's table。 He could hear the sharp incisive
〃Chip！〃 and the tender mellow love…notes as he left the barn； and
all the way to the sumac they rang in his ears。
The Cardinal met him at the corner of the field； and hopped over
bushes and the fence only a few yards from him。 When Abram had
scattered his store on the rail； the bird came tipping and
tilting； daintily caught up a crumb； and carried it to the sumac。
His mate was pleased to take it； and he carried her one morsel
after another until she refused to open her beak for more。 He
made a light supper himself； and then swinging on the grape…vine；
he closed the day with an hour of music。 He repeatedly turned a
bright questioning eye toward Abram； but he never for a moment
lost sight of the nest and the plump gray figure of his little
mate。 As she brooded over her eggs； he brooded over her； and
that she might realize the depth and constancy of his devotion；
he told her repeatedly； with every tender inflection he could
throw into his tones； that she was 〃So dear！ So dear！〃
The Cardinal had not known that the coming of the mate he so
coveted would fill his life with such unceasing gladness； and
yet； on the very day that happiness seemed at fullest measure；
there was trouble in the sumac。 He had overstayed his time；
chasing a fat moth he particularly wanted for his mate； and she；
growing thirsty past endurance； left the nest and went to the
river。 Seeing her there； he made all possible haste to take his
turn at brooding； so he arrived just in time to see a pilfering
red squirrel starting away with an egg。
With a vicious scream the Cardinal struck him full force。 His
rush of rage cost the squirrel an eye； but it lost the father a
birdling； for the squirrel dropped the egg outside the nest。 The
Cardinal mournfully carried away the tell…tale bits of shell； so
that any one seeing them would not look up and discover his
treasures。 That left three eggs； and the brooding bird mourned
over the lost one so pitifully that the Cardinal perched close to
the nest the remainder of the day； and whispered over and over
for her comfort that she was 〃So dear！ So dear！〃
Chapter 5
〃See here！ See here！〃 demanded the Cardinal
The mandate repeatedly rang from the topmost twig of the thorn
tree； and yet the Cardinal was not in earnest。 He was beside
himself with a new and delightful excitement； and he found it
impossible to refrain from giving vent to his feelings。 He was
commanding the farmer and every furred and feathered denizen of
the river bottom to see； then he fought like a wild thing if any
of them ventured close； for great things were happening in the sumac。
In past days the Cardinal had brooded an hour every morning while
his mate went to take her exercise； bathe； and fluff in the sun
parlour。 He had gone to her that morning as usual； and she
looked at him with anxious eyes and refused to move。 He had
hopped to the very edge of the nest and repeatedly urged her to
go。 She only ruffled her feathers； and nestled the eggs she was
brooding to turn them； but did not offer to leave。 The Cardinal
reached over and gently nudged her with his beak； to remind her
that it was his time to brood； but she looked at him almost
savagely； and gave him a sharp peck； so he knew she was not to be
bothered。 He carried her every dainty he could find and hovered
near her； tense with anxiety。
It was late in the afternoon before she went after the drink for
which she was half famished。 She scarcely had reached a willow
and bent over the water before the Cardinal was on the edge of
the nest。 He examined it closely； but he could see no change。
He leaned to give the eggs careful scrutiny； and from somewhere
there came to him the faintest little 〃Chip！〃 he ever had heard。
Up went the Cardinal's crest； and he dashed to the willow。 There
was no danger in sight； and his mate was greedily dipping her
rosy beak in the water。 He went back to the cradle and listened
intently； and again that feeble cry came to him。 Under the nest；
around it； and all through the sumac he searched； until at last；
completely baffled； he came back to the edge。 The sound was so
much plainer there； that he suddenly leaned； caressing the eggs
with his beak； then the Cardinal knew！ He had heard the first
faint cries of his shell…incased babies！
With a wild scream he made a flying leap through the air。 His
heart was beating to suffocation。 He started in a race down the
river。 If he alighted on a bush he took only one swing； and
springing from it flamed on in headlong flight。 He flashed to
the top of the tallest tulip tree； and cried cloudward to the
lark： 〃See here！ See here！〃 He dashed to the river bank and told
the killdeers； and then visited the underbrush and informed the
thrushes and wood robins。 Father…tender； he grew so delirious
with joy that he forgot his habitual aloofness； and fraternized
with every bird beside the shining river。 He even laid aside his
customary caution； went chipping into the sumac； and caressed his
mate so boisterously she gazed at him severely and gave his wing
a savage pull to recall him to his sober senses。
That night the Cardinal slept in the sumac； very close to his
mate； and he shut only one eye at a time。 Early in the morning；
when he carried her the first food； he found that she was on the
edge of the nest； droppin