XIX. -THE BOBOLINK.W. IRVING.
W. IRVING.
1. The happiest bird of our spring, and one that rivals[146]the European lark, in my estimation,[147]is the Bobolink. He arrives at that choice portion of the year, which, in this latitude, answers to the description[148]of the month of May, so often given by the poets. With us, it begins about the middle of May, and lasts until nearly the middle of June.
2. Earlier than this, winter is apt to return on its traces, and to blight[149]the opening beauties of the year; and later than this, begin the parching, and panting, and dissolving[150]heats of summer. But, in this genial[151]interval,[152]Nature is in all her freshness and fragrance; “the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle[153]is heard in our land.”
3. The trees are now in their fullest foliage[154]and the brightest verdure; the woods are gay with the clustered[155]flowers of the laurel; the air is perfumed by the sweet-brier and the wild rose; the meadows are enameled[156]with clover-blossoms; while the young apple, the peach, and the plum, begin to swell, and the cherry to glow among the green leaves.
4. This is the chosen season of revelry[157]of the Bobolink. He comes amidst the pomp and fragrance of the season; his life seems all sensibility[158]and enjoyment, all song and sunshine. He is to be found in the soft bosoms of the freshet and sweetest meadows; and is most in song when the clover is in blossom.
5. He perches[159]on the topmost twig of a tree, or on some flaunting weed, and, as he rises and sinks with the breeze, pours forth a succession[160]of rich, tinkling notes, crowding one upon another, like the outpouring melody of the sky-lark, and possessing the same rapturous[161]character.
6. Sometimes he pitches from the summit of a tree, begins his song as soon as he gets upon the wing, and flutters tremulously[162]down to the earth, as if overcome with ecstasy[163]at his own music. Sometimes he is in pursuit of his paramour;[164]always in full song, as if he would win her by his melody; and always with the same appearance of intoxication[165]and delight.
7. Of all the birds of our groves and meadows, the Bobolink was the envy of my boyhood. He crossed my path in the sweetest weather, and the sweetest seasonof the year, when all Nature called to the fields, and the rural[166]feeling throbbed in every bosom; but, when I, luckless urchin, was doomed to be mewed[167]up, during the livelong day, in a school-room, it seemed as if the little varlet[168]mocked at me, as he flew by in full song, and sought to taunt me with his happier lot. O, how I envied him! No lessons, no tasks, no schools; nothing but holiday, frolic, green fields, and fine weather.
[146]Ri’-vals, strives to excel.[147]Es-ti-ma’-tion, opinion; esteem.[148]De-scrip’-tion, account.[149]Blight, blast; destroy.[150]Dis-solv’-ing, melting.[151]Ge’-ni-al, fruitful; productive.[152]In’-ter-val, space between.[153]Tur’-tle, species of dove.[154]Fo’-li-age, leaves collectively.[155]Clus’-ter-ed. growing in bunches.[156]En-am’-el-ed, inlaid; variegated.[157]Rev’-el-ry, festive mirth; jollity.[158]Sens-i-bil’-ty, delicate feeling.[159]Perch’-es, alights.[160]Suc-ces’-sion, series.[161]Rap’-tur-ous, joyful; thrilling.[162]Trem’-u-lous-ly, tremblingly.[163]Ec’-sta-sy, excessive joy.[164]Par’-a-mour, lover.[165]In-tox-i-ca’-tion, high excitement.[166]Ru’-ral, pertaining to the country.[167]Mew’-ed, shut up; confined.[168]Var’-let, scamp; rascal.
[146]Ri’-vals, strives to excel.
[146]Ri’-vals, strives to excel.
[147]Es-ti-ma’-tion, opinion; esteem.
[147]Es-ti-ma’-tion, opinion; esteem.
[148]De-scrip’-tion, account.
[148]De-scrip’-tion, account.
[149]Blight, blast; destroy.
[149]Blight, blast; destroy.
[150]Dis-solv’-ing, melting.
[150]Dis-solv’-ing, melting.
[151]Ge’-ni-al, fruitful; productive.
[151]Ge’-ni-al, fruitful; productive.
[152]In’-ter-val, space between.
[152]In’-ter-val, space between.
[153]Tur’-tle, species of dove.
[153]Tur’-tle, species of dove.
[154]Fo’-li-age, leaves collectively.
[154]Fo’-li-age, leaves collectively.
[155]Clus’-ter-ed. growing in bunches.
[155]Clus’-ter-ed. growing in bunches.
[156]En-am’-el-ed, inlaid; variegated.
[156]En-am’-el-ed, inlaid; variegated.
[157]Rev’-el-ry, festive mirth; jollity.
[157]Rev’-el-ry, festive mirth; jollity.
[158]Sens-i-bil’-ty, delicate feeling.
[158]Sens-i-bil’-ty, delicate feeling.
[159]Perch’-es, alights.
[159]Perch’-es, alights.
[160]Suc-ces’-sion, series.
[160]Suc-ces’-sion, series.
[161]Rap’-tur-ous, joyful; thrilling.
[161]Rap’-tur-ous, joyful; thrilling.
[162]Trem’-u-lous-ly, tremblingly.
[162]Trem’-u-lous-ly, tremblingly.
[163]Ec’-sta-sy, excessive joy.
[163]Ec’-sta-sy, excessive joy.
[164]Par’-a-mour, lover.
[164]Par’-a-mour, lover.
[165]In-tox-i-ca’-tion, high excitement.
[165]In-tox-i-ca’-tion, high excitement.
[166]Ru’-ral, pertaining to the country.
[166]Ru’-ral, pertaining to the country.
[167]Mew’-ed, shut up; confined.
[167]Mew’-ed, shut up; confined.
[168]Var’-let, scamp; rascal.
[168]Var’-let, scamp; rascal.