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I've turned it every spring for forty year。 Bought it when I was
a young fellow； jest married to Maria。 Shouldered a big debt on
it； but I always loved these slopin' fields； an' my share of this
old Wabash hasn't been for sale nor tradin' any time this past
forty year。 I've hung on to it like grim death； for it's jest
that much o' Paradise I'm plumb sure of。 First time I plowed
this field； Mr。 Redbird； I only hit the high places。 Jest
married Maria； an' I didn't touch earth any too frequent all that
summer。 I've plowed it every year since； an' I've been 'lowin'
all this winter； when the rheumatiz was gettin' in its work； 'at
I'd give it up this spring an' turn it to medder； but I don't
know。 Once I got started； b'lieve I could go it all right an'
not feel it so much； if you'd stay to cheer me up a little an'
post me on the weather。 Hate the doggondest to own I'm worsted；
an' if you say it's stay； b'lieve I'll try it。 Very sight o' you
kinder warms the cockles o' my heart all up； an' every skip you
take sets me a…wantin' to be jumpin'； too。
〃What on earth are you lookin' for？ Man！ I b'lieve it's grub！
Somebody's been feedin' you！ An' you want me to keep it up？
Well； you struck it all right； Mr。 Redbird。 Feed you？ You bet I
will！ You needn't even 'rastle for grubs if you don't want to。
Like as not you're feelin' hungry right now； pickin' bein' so
slim these airly days。 Land's sake！ I hope you don't feel
you've come too soon。 I'll fetch you everything on the place
it's likely a redbird ever teched； airly in the mornin' if you'll
say you'll stay an' wave your torch 'long my river bank this
summer。 I haven't a scrap about me now。 Yes； I have； too！
Here's a handful o' corn I was takin' to the banty rooster； but
shucks！ he's fat as a young shoat now。 Corn's a leetle big an'
hard for you。 Mebby I can split it up a mite。〃
Abram took out his jack…knife； and dotting a row of grains along
the top rail； he split and shaved them down as fine as possible；
and as he reached one end of the rail； the Cardinal； with a
spasmodic 〃Chip！〃 dashed down and snatched a particle from the
other； and flashed back to the bush； tested； approved； and
chipped his thanks。
〃Pshaw now！〃 said Abram； staring wide…eyed。 〃Doesn't that beat
you？ So you really are a pet？ Best kind of a pet in the whole
world； too！ Makin' everybody； at sees you happy； an' havin' some
chance to be happy yourself。 An' I look like your friend？ Well！
Well！ I'm monstrous willin' to adopt you if you'll take me； an'；
as for feedin'； from to…morrow on I'll find time to set your
little table 'long this same rail every day。 I s'pose Maria 'ull
say 'at I'm gone plumb crazy； but； for that matter； if I ever get
her down to see you jest once； the trick's done with her； too；
for you're the prettiest thing God ever made in the shape of a
bird； 'at I ever saw。 Look at that topknot a wavin' in the wind！
Maybe praise to the face is open disgrace； but I'll take your
share an' mine； too； an' tell you right here an' now 'at you're
the blamedest prettiest thing 'at I ever saw。
〃But Lord！ You ortn't be so careless！ Don't you know you ain't
nothin' but jest a target？ Why don't you keep out o' sight a
little？ You come a…shinneyin' up to nine out o' ten men 'long
the river like this； an' your purty； coaxin'； palaverin' way
won't save a feather on you。 You'll get the little red heart
shot plumb outen your little red body； an' that's what you'll
get。 It's a dratted shame！ An' there's law to protect you； too。
They's a good big fine for killin' such as you； but nobody seems
to push it。 Every fool wants to test his aim； an' you're the
brightest thing on the river bank for a mark。
〃Well； if you'll stay right where you are； it 'ull be a sorry day
for any cuss 'at teches you； 'at I'll promise you； Mr。 Redbird。
This land's mine； an' if you locate on it； you're mine till time
to go back to that other old fellow 'at looks like me。 Wonder if
he's any willinger to feed you an' stand up for you 'an I am？〃
〃Here！ Here！ Here！〃 whistled the Cardinal。
〃Well； I'm mighty glad if you're sayin' you'll stay！ Guess it
will be all right if you don't meet some o' them Limberlost hens
an' tole off to the swamp。 Lord！ the Limberlost ain't to be
compared with the river； Mr。 Redbird。 You're foolish if you go！
Talkin' 'bout goin'； I must be goin' myself； or Maria will be
comin' down the line fence with the lantern； an'； come to think
of it； I'm a little moist； not to say downright damp。 But then
you WARNED me； didn't you； old fellow？ Well； I told Maria seein'
you 'ud be like meetin' folks； an' it has been。 Good deal more'n
I counted on； an' I've talked more'n I have in a whole year。
Hardly think now 'at I've the reputation o' being a mighty quiet
fellow； would you？〃
Abram straightened and touched his hat brim in a trim half
military salute。 〃Well； good…bye； Mr。 Redbird。 Never had more
pleasure meetin' anybody in my life 'cept first time I met Maria。
You think about the plowin'； an'； if you say ‘stay；' it's a go！
Good…bye； an' do be a little more careful o' yourself。 See you
in the mornin'； right after breakfast； no count taken o' the
weather。〃
〃Wet year！ Wet year！〃 called the Cardinal after his retreating
figure。
Abram turned and gravely saluted the second time。 The Cardinal
went to the top rail and feasted on the sweet grains of corn
until his craw was full； and then nestled in the sumac and went
to sleep。 Early next morning he was abroad and in fine toilet；
and with a full voice from the top of the sumac greeted the
day〃Wet year！ Wet year！〃
Far down the river echoed his voice until it so closely resembled
some member of his family replying that he followed； searching
the banks mile after mile on either side； until finally he heard
voices of his kind。 He located them； but it was only several
staid old couples； a long time mated； and busy with their
nest…building。 The Cardinal returned to the sumac； feeling a
degree lonelier than ever。
He decided to prospect in the opposite direction； and taking
wing； he started up the river。 Following the channel； he winged
his flight for miles over the cool sparkling water； between the
tangle of foliage bordering the banks。 When he came to the long
cumbrous structures of wood with which men had bridged the river；
where the shuffling feet of tired farm horses raised clouds of
dust and set the echoes rolling with their thunderous hoof beats；
he was afraid； and rising high； he sailed over them in short
broken curves of flight。 But where giant maple and ash； leaning；
locked branches across the channel in one of old Mother Nature's
bridges for the squirrels； he knew no fear； and dipped so low
beneath them that his image trailed a wavering shadow on the
silver path he followed。
He rounded curve after curve； and frequently stopping on a
conspicuous perch