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curling over sugar…camp and clearing； in the forests animals were
rousing from their long sleep； the shad were starting anew their
never…ending journey up the shining river； peeps of green were
mantling hilltop and valley； and the northland was ready for its
dearest springtime treasures to come home again。
From overhead were ringing those first glad notes； caught nearer
the Throne than those of any other bird； 〃Spring o' year！ Spring
o' year！〃； while stilt…legged little killdeers were scudding
around the Limberlost and beside the river； flinging from
cloudland their 〃Kill deer！ Kill deer！〃 call。 The robins in the
orchards were pulling the long dried blades of last year's grass
from beneath the snow to line their mud…walled cups； and the
bluebirds were at the hollow apple tree。 Flat on the top rail；
the doves were gathering their few coarse sticks and twigs
together。 It was such a splendid place to set their cradle。 The
weatherbeaten； rotting old rails were the very colour of the busy
dove mother。 Her red…rimmed eye fitted into the background like
a tiny scarlet lichen cup。 Surely no one would ever see her！
The Limberlost and shining river； the fields and forests； the
wayside bushes and fences； the stumps； logs； hollow trees； even
the bare brown breast of Mother Earth； were all waiting to cradle
their own again； and by one of the untold miracles each would
return to its place。
There was intoxication in the air。 The subtle； pungent；
ravishing odours on the wind； of unfolding leaves； ice…water
washed plants； and catkin pollen； were an elixir to humanity。
The cattle of the field were fairly drunk with it； and herds；
dry…fed during the winter； were coming to their first grazing
with heads thrown high； romping； bellowing； and racing like wild
things。
The north wind； sweeping from icy fastnesses； caught this odour
of spring； and carried it to the orange orchards and Everglades；
and at a breath of it； crazed with excitement； the Cardinal went
flaming through the orchard； for with no one to teach him； he
knew what it meant。 The call had come。 Holidays were over。
It was time to go home； time to riot in crisp freshness； time to
go courting； time to make love； time to possess his own； time for
mating and nest…building。 All that day he flashed around；
nervous with dread of the unknown； and palpitant with delightful
expectation； but with the coming of dusk he began his journey
northward。
When he passed the Everglades； he winged his way slowly； and
repeatedly sent down a challenging 〃Chip；〃 but there was no
answer。 Then the Cardinal knew that the north wind had carried a
true message； for the king and his followers were ahead of him on
their way to the Limberlost。 Mile after mile； a thing of pulsing
fire； he breasted the blue…black night； and it was not so very
long until he could discern a flickering patch of darkness
sweeping the sky before him。 The Cardinal flew steadily in a
straight sweep； until with a throb of triumph in his heart； he
arose in his course； and from far overhead； flung down a boastful
challenge to the king and his followers； as he sailed above them
and was lost from sight。
It was still dusky with the darkness of night when he crossed the
Limberlost； dropping low enough to see its branches laid bare； to
catch a gleam of green in its swelling buds； and to hear the
wavering chorus of its frogs。 But there was no hesitation in his
flight。 Straight and sure he winged his way toward the shining
river； and it was only a few more miles until the rolling waters
of its springtime flood caught his eye。 Dropping precipitately；
he plunged his burning beak into the loved water； then he flew
into a fine old stag sumac and tucked his head under his wing for
a short rest。 He had made the long flight in one unbroken sweep；
and he was sleepy。 In utter content he ruffled his feathers and
closed his eyes； for he was beside the shining river； and it
would be another season before the orange orchard would ring
again with his 〃Good Cheer！ Good Cheer！〃
Chapter 2
〃Wet year！ Wet year！〃 prophesied the Cardinal
The sumac seemed to fill his idea of a perfect location from the
very first。 He perched on a limb； and between dressing his
plumage and pecking at last year's sour dried berries； he sent
abroad his prediction。 Old Mother Nature verified his wisdom by
sending a dashing shower； but he cared not at all for a wetting。
He knew how to turn his crimson suit into the most perfect of
water…proof coats； so he flattened his crest； sleeked his
feathers； and breasting the April downpour； kept on calling for
rain。 He knew he would appear brighter when it was past； and he
seemed to know； too； that every day of sunshine and shower would
bring nearer his heart's desire。
He was a very Beau Brummel while he waited。 From morning until
night he bathed； dressed his feathers； sunned himself； fluffed
and flirted。 He strutted and 〃chipped〃 incessantly。 He claimed
that sumac for his very own； and stoutly battled for possession
with many intruders。 It grew on a densely wooded slope； and the
shining river went singing between grassy banks； whitened with
spring beauties； below it。 Crowded around it were thickets of
papaw； wild grape…vines； thorn； dogwood； and red haw； that
attracted bug and insect； and just across the old snake fence was
a field of mellow mould sloping to the river； that soon would be
plowed for corn； turning out numberless big fat grubs。
He was compelled almost hourly to wage battles for his location；
for there was something fine about the old stag sumac that
attracted homestead seekers。 A sober pair of robins began laying
their foundations there the morning the Cardinal arrived； and a
couple of blackbirds tried to take possession before the day had
passed。 He had little trouble with the robins。 They were easily
conquered； and with small protest settled a rod up the bank in a
wild…plum tree； but the air was thick with 〃chips；〃 chatter； and
red and black feathers； before the blackbirds acknowledged
defeat。 They were old…timers； and knew about the grubs and the
young corn； but they also knew when they were beaten； so they
moved down stream to a scrub oak； trying to assure each other
that it was the place they really had wanted from the first。
The Cardinal was left boasting and strutting in the sumac； but in
his heart he found it lonesome business。 Being the son of a
king； he was much too dignified to beg for a mate； and besides；
it took all his time to guard the sumac； but his eyes were wide
open to all that went on around him； and he envied the blackbird
his glossy； devoted little sweetheart； with all his might。 He
almost strained his voice trying to rival the love…song of a
skylark that hung among the clouds above a meadow across the
river； and poured down to his mate a story of adoring love and
sympathy。 He screamed a 〃Chip〃 of such savage jealousy at a pair
of killdeer lovers that he sent them scampering down the river
bank without knowing that the crime of which they stood convicted
was that of being mated when he was not。 As for the doves that
were already brooding on the line fence beneath the maples； the
Cardinal was torn between two opinions。
He was alone； he was love…sick； and he was holding the finest
building location beside the shining river for his mate； and her
slowness in coming made their devotion difficult to endure when
he coveted a true love； but it seemed to the Cardinal that he
never could so forget himself as to emulate the example of that
dove lover。 The dove had no dignity； he was so effusive he was a
nuisance。 He kept his dignified Quaker mate stuffed to
discomfort； he clung to the side of the nest trying to help brood
until he almost crowded her from the eggs。 He pestered her with
caresses and cooed over his love…song until every chipmunk on the
line fence was familiar with his story。 The Cardinal's temper
was worn to such a fine edge that he darted at the dove one day
and pulled a big tuft of feathers from his back。 When he had
returned to the sumac； he was compelled to admit that his anger
lay quite as much in that he had no one to love as because the
dove was disgustingly devoted。
Every morning brought new arrivalstrim young females fresh from
their long holiday； and big boastful males appearing their
brightest and bravest； each singer almost splitting his throat in
the effort to captivate the mate he coveted。 They came flashing
down the river bank； like rockets of scarlet； gold； blue； and
black； rocking on the willows； splashing in the water； bursting
into jets of melody； making every possible display of their
beauty and music； and at times fighting fiercely when they
discovered that the females they were wooing favoured their
rivals and desired only to be friendly with them。
The heart of the Car