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discovered that the females they were wooing favoured their
rivals and desired only to be friendly with them。
The heart of the Cardinal sank as he watched。 There was not a
member of his immediate family among them。 He pitied himself as
he wondered if fate had in store for him the trials he saw others
suffering。 Those dreadful feathered females！ How they coquetted！
How they flirted！ How they sleeked and flattened their plumage；
and with half…open beaks and sparkling eyes； hopped closer and
closer as if charmed。 The eager singers； with swelling throats；
sang and sang in a very frenzy of extravagant pleading； but just
when they felt sure their little loves were on the point of
surrender； a rod distant above the bushes would go streaks of
feathers； and there was nothing left but to endure the bitter
disappointment； follow them； and begin all over。 For the last
three days the Cardinal had been watching his cousin；
rose…breasted Grosbeak； make violent love to the most exquisite
little female； who apparently encouraged his advances； only to
see him left sitting as blue and disconsolate as any human lover；
when he discovers that the maid who has coquetted with him for a
season belongs to another man。
The Cardinal flew to the very top of the highest sycamore and
looked across country toward the Limberlost。 Should he go there
seeking a swamp mate among his kindred？ It was not an endurable
thought。 To be sure； matters were becoming serious。 No bird
beside the shining river had plumed； paraded； or made more music
than he。 Was it all to be wasted？ By this time he confidently
had expected results。 Only that morning he had swelled with
pride as he heard Mrs。 Jay tell her quarrelsome husband that she
wished she could exchange him for the Cardinal。 Did not the
gentle dove pause by the sumac； when she left brooding to take
her morning dip in the dust； and gaze at him with unconcealed
admiration？ No doubt she devoutly wished her plain pudgy husband
wore a scarlet coat。 But it is praise from one's own sex that is
praise indeed； and only an hour ago the lark had reported that
from his lookout above cloud he saw no other singer anywhere so
splendid as the Cardinal of the sumac。 Because of these things
he held fast to his conviction that he was a prince indeed； and
he decided to remain in his chosen location and with his physical
and vocal attractions compel the finest little cardinal in the
fields to seek him。
He planned it all very carefully： how she would hear his splendid
music and come to take a peep at him； how she would be captivated
by his size and beauty； how she would come timidly； but come； of
course； for his approval； how he would condescend to accept her
if she pleased him in all particulars； how she would be devoted
to him； and how she would approve his choice of a home； for the
sumac was in a lovely spot for scenery； as well as nest…building。
For several days he had boasted； he had bantered； he had
challenged； he had on this last day almost condescended to
coaxing； but not one little bright…eyed cardinal female had come
to offer herself。
The performance of a brown thrush drove him wild with envy。 The
thrush came gliding up the river bank； a rusty…coated； sneaking
thing of the underbrush； and taking possession of a thorn bush
just opposite the sumac； he sang for an hour in the open。 There
was no way to improve that music。 It was woven fresh from the
warp and woof of his fancy。 It was a song so filled with the joy
and gladness of spring； notes so thrilled with love's pleading
and passion's tender pulsing pain； that at its close there were a
half…dozen admiring thrush females gathered around。 With care
and deliberation the brown thrush selected the most attractive；
and she followed him to the thicket as if charmed。
It was the Cardinal's dream materialized for another before his
very eyes； and it filled him with envy。 If that plain brown bird
that slinked as if he had a theft to account for； could； by
showing himself and singing for an hour； win a mate； why should
not he； the most gorgeous bird of the woods； openly flaunting his
charms and discoursing his music； have at least equal success？
Should he； the proudest； most magnificent of cardinals； be
compelled to go seeking a mate like any common bird？ Perish the
thought！
He went to the river to bathe。 After finding a spot where the
water flowed crystal…clear over a bed of white limestone； he
washed until he felt that he could be no cleaner。 Then the
Cardinal went to his favourite sun…parlour； and stretching on a
limb； he stood his feathers on end； and sunned； fluffed and
prinked until he was immaculate。
On the tip…top antler of the old stag sumac； he perched and
strained until his jetty whiskers appeared stubby。 He poured out
a tumultuous cry vibrant with every passion raging in him。 He
caught up his own rolling echoes and changed and varied them。 He
improvised； and set the shining river ringing； 〃Wet year！ Wet
year！〃
He whistled and whistled until all birdland and even mankind
heard； for the farmer paused at his kitchen door； with his pails
of foaming milk； and called to his wife：
〃Hear that； Maria！ Jest hear it！ I swanny； if that bird doesn't
stop predictin' wet weather； I'll get so scared I won't durst put
in my corn afore June。 They's some birds like killdeers an'
bobwhites 'at can make things pretty plain； but I never heard a
bird 'at could jest speak words out clear an' distinct like that
fellow。 Seems to come from the river bottom。 B'lieve I'll jest
step down that way an' see if the lower field is ready for the
plow yet。〃
〃Abram Johnson；〃 said his wife； 〃bein's you set up for an honest
man； if you want to trapse through slush an' drizzle a half…mile
to see a bird； why say so； but don't for land's sake lay it on to
plowin' 'at you know in all conscience won't be ready for a week
yet 'thout pretendin' to look。〃
Abram grinned sheepishly。 〃I'm willin' to call it the bird if
you are； Maria。 I've been hearin' him from the barn all day； an'
there's somethin' kind o' human in his notes 'at takes me jest a
little diffrunt from any other bird I ever noticed。 I'm really
curious to set eyes on him。 Seemed to me from his singin' out to
the barn； it 'ud be mighty near like meetin' folks。〃
〃Bosh！〃 exclaimed Maria。 〃I don't s'pose he sings a mite better
'an any other bird。 It's jest the old Wabash rollin' up the
echoes。 A bird singin' beside the river always sounds twicet as
fine as one on the hills。 I've knowed that for forty year。
Chances are 'at he'll be gone 'fore you get there。〃
As Abram opened the door； 〃Wet year！ Wet year！〃 pealed the
flaming prophet。
He went out； closing the door softly； and with an utter disregard
for the corn field； made a bee line for the musician。
〃I don't know as this is the best for twinges o' rheumatiz；〃 he
muttered； as he turned up his collar and drew his old hat lower
to keep the splashing drops from his face。 〃I don't jest rightly
s'pose I should go； but I'm free to admit I'd as lief be dead as
not to answer when I get a call； an' the fact is； I'm CALLED down
beside the river。〃
〃Wet year！ Wet year！〃 rolled the Cardinal's prediction。
〃Thanky； old fellow！ Glad to hear you！ Didn't jest need the
information； but I got my bearin's rightly from it！ I can about
pick out your bush； an' it's well along towards evenin'； too； an'
must be mighty near your bedtime。 Looks as if you might be
stayin' round these parts！ I'd like it powerful well if you'd
settle right here； say 'bout where you are。 An' where are you；
anyway？〃
Abram went peering and dodging beside the fence； peeping into the
bushes； searching for the bird。 Suddenly there was a whir of
wings and a streak of crimson。
〃Scared you into the next county； I s'pose；〃 he muttered。
But it came nearer being a scared man than a frightened bird； for
the Cardinal flashed straight toward him until only a few yards
away； and then； swaying on a bush； it chipped； cheered； peeked；
whistled broken notes； and manifested perfect delight at the
sight of the white…haired old man。 Abram stared in astonishment。
〃Lord A'mighty！〃 he gasped。 〃Big as a blackbird； red as a live
coal； an' a…comin' right at me。 You are somebody's pet； that's
what you are！ An' no； you ain't either。 Settin' on a sawed
stick in a little wire house takes all the ginger out of any
bird； an' their feathers are always mussy。 Inside o' a cage
never saw you； for they ain't a feather out o' place on you。 You
are finer'n a piece o' red satin。 An' you got that way o'
swingin' an' dancin' an' high…steppin' right out in God
A'mighty's big woods； a teeterin' in the wind； an' a dartin'
'crost the water。 Cage never touched you！ But you are somebody's
pet jest the same。 An' I look like the man； an' you are tryin'
t