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The Song of the Cardinal
by Gene Stratton…Porter
IN LOVING TRIBUTE
TO THE MEMORY OF MY FATHER
MARK STRATTON
〃For him every work of God manifested a new and heretofore
unappreciated loveliness。〃
Chapter 1
〃Good cheer！ Good cheer！〃 exulted the Cardinal
He darted through the orange orchard searching for slugs for his
breakfast； and between whiles he rocked on the branches and rang
over his message of encouragement to men。 The song of the
Cardinal was overflowing with joy； for this was his holiday； his
playtime。 The southern world was filled with brilliant sunshine；
gaudy flowers； an abundance of fruit； myriads of insects； and
never a thing to do except to bathe； feast； and be happy。 No
wonder his song was a prophecy of good cheer for the future； for
happiness made up the whole of his past。
The Cardinal was only a yearling； yet his crest flared high； his
beard was crisp and black； and he was a very prodigy in size and
colouring。 Fathers of his family that had accomplished many
migrations appeared small beside him； and coats that had been
shed season after season seemed dull compared with his。 It was
as if a pulsing heart of flame passed by when he came winging
through the orchard。
Last season the Cardinal had pipped his shell； away to the north；
in that paradise of the birds； the Limberlost。 There thousands
of acres of black marsh…muck stretch under summers' sun and
winters' snows。 There are darksome pools of murky water； bits of
swale； and high morass。 Giants of the forest reach skyward； or；
coated with velvet slime； lie decaying in sun…flecked pools；
while the underbrush is almost impenetrable。
The swamp resembles a big dining…table for the birds。 Wild
grape…vines clamber to the tops of the highest trees； spreading
umbrella…wise over the branches； and their festooned floating
trailers wave as silken fringe in the play of the wind。 The
birds loll in the shade； peel bark； gather dried curlers for nest
material； and feast on the pungent fruit。 They chatter in swarms
over the wild…cherry trees； and overload their crops with red
haws； wild plums； papaws； blackberries and mandrake。 The alders
around the edge draw flocks in search of berries； and the marsh
grasses and weeds are weighted with seed hunters。 The muck is
alive with worms； and the whole swamp ablaze with flowers； whose
colours and perfumes attract myriads of insects and butterflies。
Wild creepers flaunt their red and gold from the treetops； and
the bumblebees and humming…birds make common cause in rifling the
honey…laden trumpets。 The air around the wild…plum and redhaw
trees is vibrant with the beating wings of millions of wild bees；
and the bee…birds feast to gluttony。 The fetid odours of the
swamp draw insects in swarms； and fly…catchers tumble and twist
in air in pursuit of them。
Every hollow tree homes its colony of bats。 Snakes sun on the
bushes。 The water folk leave trails of shining ripples in their
wake as they cross the lagoons。 Turtles waddle clumsily from the
logs。 Frogs take graceful leaps from pool to pool。 Everything
native to that section of the country…underground； creeping； or
a…wingcan be found in the Limberlost； but above all the birds。
Dainty green warblers nest in its tree…tops； and red…eyed vireos
choose a location below。 It is the home of bell…birds； finches；
and thrushes。 There are flocks of blackbirds； grackles； and
crows。 Jays and catbirds quarrel constantly； and marsh…wrens
keep up never…ending chatter。 Orioles swing their pendent purses
from the branches； and with the tanagers picnic on mulberries and
insects。 In the evening； night…hawks dart on silent wing；
whippoorwills set up a plaintive cry that they continue far into
the night； and owls revel in moonlight and rich hunting。 At
dawn； robins wake the echoes of each new day with the admonition；
〃Cheer up！ Cheer up！〃 and a little later big black vultures go
wheeling through cloudland or hang there； like frozen splashes；
searching the Limberlost and the surrounding country for food。
The boom of the bittern resounds all day； and above it the
rasping scream of the blue heron； as he strikes terror to the
hearts of frogdom； while the occasional cries of a lost loon；
strayed from its flock in northern migration； fill the swamp with
sounds of wailing。
Flashing through the tree…tops of the Limberlost there are birds
whose colour is more brilliant than that of the gaudiest flower
lifting its face to light and air。 The lilies of the mire are
not so white as the white herons that fish among them。 The
ripest spray of goldenrod is not so highly coloured as the
burnished gold on the breast of the oriole that rocks on it。 The
jays are bluer than the calamus bed they wrangle above with
throaty chatter。 The finches are a finer purple than the
ironwort。 For every clump of foxfire flaming in the Limberlost；
there is a cardinal glowing redder on a bush above it。 These may
not be more numerous than other birds； but their brilliant
colouring and the fearless disposition make them seem so。
The Cardinal was hatched in a thicket of sweetbrier and
blackberry。 His father was a tough old widower of many
experiences and variable temper。 He was the biggest； most
aggressive redbird in the Limberlost； and easily reigned king of
his kind。 Catbirds； king…birds； and shrikes gave him a wide
berth； and not even the ever…quarrelsome jays plucked up enough
courage to antagonize him。 A few days after his latest
bereavement； he saw a fine； plump young female； and she so filled
his eye that he gave her no rest until she permitted his
caresses； and carried the first twig to the wild rose。 She was
very proud to mate with the king of the Limberlost； and if deep
in her heart she felt transient fears of her lordly master； she
gave no sign； for she was a bird of goodly proportion and fine
feather herself。
She chose her location with the eye of an artist； and the
judgment of a nest builder of more experience。 It would be
difficult for snakes and squirrels to penetrate that briery
thicket。 The white berry blossoms scarcely had ceased to attract
a swarm of insects before the sweets of the roses recalled them；
by the time they had faded； luscious big berries ripened within
reach and drew food hunters。 She built with far more than
ordinary care。 It was a beautiful nest； not nearly so carelessly
made as those of her kindred all through the swamp。 There was a
distinct attempt at a cup shape； and it really was neatly lined
with dried blades of sweet marsh grass。 But it was in the laying
of her first egg that the queen cardinal forever distinguished
herself。 She was a fine healthy bird； full of love and happiness
over her first venture in nest…building； and she so far surpassed
herself on that occasion she had difficulty in convincing any one
that she was responsible for the result。
Indeed； she was compelled to lift beak and wing against her mate
in defense of this egg； for it was so unusually large that he
could not be persuaded short of force that some sneak of the
feathered tribe had not slipped in and deposited it in her
absence。 The king felt sure there was something wrong with the
egg； and wanted to roll it from the nest； but the queen knew her
own； and stoutly battled for its protection。 She further
increased their prospects by laying three others。 After that the
king made up his mind that she was a most remarkable bird； and
went away pleasure…seeking； but the queen settled to brooding； a
picture of joyous faith and contentment。
Through all the long days； when the heat became intense； and the
king was none too thoughtful of her appetite or comfort； she
nestled those four eggs against her breast and patiently waited。
The big egg was her treasure。 She gave it constant care。 Many
times in a day she turned it； and always against her breast there
was the individual pressure that distinguished it from the
others。 It was the first to hatch； of course； and the queen felt
that she had enough if all the others failed her； for this egg
pipped with a resounding pip； and before the silky down was
really dry on the big terracotta body； the young Cardinal arose
and lustily demanded food。
The king came to see him and at once acknowledged subjugation。
He was the father of many promising cardinals； yet he never had
seen one like this。 He set the Limberlost echoes rolling with
his jubilant rejoicing。 He unceasingly hunted for the ripest
berries and seed。 He stuffed that baby from morning until night；
and never came with food that he did not find him standing a…top
the others calling for more。 The queen was just as proud of him
and quite as foolish in her idolatry； but she kept tally and gave
the remainder every other worm in turn。 They