the song of the cardinal-第2章

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him　the　proper　angle　at　which　to　breast　a　stiff　wind；　and　that　he

always　should　meet　a　storm　head　first；　so　that　the　water　would

run　as　the　plumage　lay。



His　first　bathing　lesson　was　a　pronounced　success。　　The　Cardinal

enjoyed　water　like　a　duck。　　He　bathed；　splashed；　and　romped　until

his　mother　was　almost　crazy　for　fear　he　would　attract　a

watersnake　or　turtle；　but　the　element　of　fear　was　not　a　part　of

his　disposition。　　He　learned　to　dry；　dress；　and　plume　his

feathers；　and　showed　such　remarkable　pride　in　keeping　himself

immaculate；　that　although　only　a　youngster；　he　was　already　a　bird

of　such　great　promise；　that　many　of　the　feathered　inhabitants　of

the　Limberlost　came　to　pay　him　a　call。



Next；　the　king　took　him　on　a　long　trip　around　the　swamp；　and

taught　him　to　select　the　proper　places　to　hunt　for　worms；　how　to

search　under　leaves　for　plant…lice　and　slugs　for　meat；　which

berries　were　good　and　safe；　and　the　kind　of　weeds　that　bore　the

most　and　best　seeds。　　He　showed　him　how　to　find　tiny　pebbles　to

grind　his　food；　and　how　to　sharpen　and　polish　his　beak。



Then　he　took　up　the　real　music　lessons；　and　taught　him　how　to

whistle　and　how　to　warble　and　trill。　　〃Good　Cheer！　Good　Cheer！〃

intoned　the　king。　　〃Coo　Cher！　Coo　Cher！〃　imitated　the　Cardinal。

These　songs　were　only　studied　repetitions；　but　there　was　a　depth

and　volume　in　his　voice　that　gave　promise　of　future　greatness；

when　age　should　have　developed　him；　and　experience　awakened　his

emotions。　　He　was　an　excellent　musician　for　a　youngster。



He　soon　did　so　well　in　caring　for　himself；　in　finding　food　and　in

flight；　and　grew　so　big　and　independent；　that　he　made　numerous

excursions　alone　through　the　Limberlost；　and　so　impressive　were

his　proportions；　and　so　aggressive　his　manner；　that　he　suffered

no　molestation。　　In　fact；　the　reign　of　the　king　promised　to　end

speedily；　but　if　he　feared　it　he　made　no　sign；　and　his　pride　in

his　wonderful　offspring　was　always　manifest。　　After　the　Cardinal

had　explored　the　swamp　thoroughly；　a　longing　for　a　wider　range

grew　upon　him；　and　day　after　day　he　lingered　around　the　borders；

looking　across　the　wide　cultivated　fields；　almost　aching　to　test

his　wings　in　one　long；　high；　wild　stretch　of　flight。



A　day　came　when　the　heat　of　the　late　summer　set　the　marsh

steaming；　and　the　Cardinal；　flying　close　to　the　borders；　caught

the　breeze　from　the　upland；　and　the　vision　of　broad　fields

stretching　toward　the　north　so　enticed　him　that　he　spread　his

wings；　and　following　the　line　of　trees　and　fences　as　much　as

possible；　he　made　his　first　journey　from　home。　　That　day　was　so

delightful　it　decided　his　fortunes。　　It　would　seem　that　the

swamp；　so　appreciated　by　his　kindred；　should　have　been　sufficient

for　the　Cardinal；　but　it　was　not。　　With　every　mile　he　winged　his

flight；　came　a　greater　sense　of　power　and　strength；　and　a　keener

love　for　the　broad　sweep　of　field　and　forest。　　His　heart　bounded

with　the　zest　of　rocking　on　the　wind；　racing　through　the

sunshine；　and　sailing　over　the　endless　panorama　of　waving　corn

fields；　and　woodlands。



The　heat　and　closeness　of　the　Limberlost　seemed　a　prison　well

escaped；　as　on　and　on　he　flew　in　straight　untiring　flight。

Crossing　a　field　of　half…ripened　corn　that　sloped　to　the　river；

the　Cardinal　saw　many　birds　feeding　there；　so　he　alighted　on　a

tall　tree　to　watch　them。　　Soon　he　decided　that　he　would　like　to

try　this　new　food。　　He　found　a　place　where　a　crow　had　left　an　ear

nicely　laid　open；　and　clinging　to　the　husk；　as　he　saw　the　others

do；　he　stretched　to　his　full　height　and　drove　his　strong　sharp

beak　into　the　creamy　grain。　　After　the　stifling　swamp　hunting；

after　the　long　exciting　flight；　to　rock　on　this　swaying　corn　and

drink　the　rich　milk　of　the　grain；　was　to　the　Cardinal　his　first

taste　of　nectar　and　ambrosia。　　He　lifted　his　head　when　he　came　to

the　golden　kernel；　and　chipping　it　in　tiny　specks；　he　tasted　and

approved　with　all　the　delight　of　an　epicure　in　a　delicious　new

dish。



Perhaps　there　were　other　treats　in　the　next　field。　　He　decided　to

fly　even　farther。　　But　he　had　gone　only　a　short　distance　when　he

changed　his　course　and　turned　to　the　South；　for　below　him　was　a

long；　shining；　creeping　thing；　fringed　with　willows；　while

towering　above　them　were　giant　sycamore；　maple；　tulip；　and　elm

trees　that　caught　and　rocked　with　the　wind；　and　the　Cardinal　did

not　know　what　it　was。　　Filled　with　wonder　he　dropped　lower　and

lower。　　Birds　were　everywhere；　many　flying　over　and　dipping　into

it；　but　its　clear　creeping　silver　was　a　mystery　to　the　Cardinal。



The　beautiful　river　of　poetry　and　song　that　the　Indians　first

discovered；　and　later　with　the　French；　named　Ouabache；　the

winding　shining　river　that　Logan　and　Me…shin…go…me…sia　loved；　the

only　river　that　could　tempt　Wa…ca…co…nah　from　the　Salamonie　and

Mississinewa；　the　river　beneath　whose　silver　sycamores　and　giant

maples　Chief　Godfrey　pitched　his　campfires；　was　never　more

beautiful　than　on　that　perfect　autumn　day。



With　his　feathers　pressed　closely；　the　Cardinal　alighted　on　a

willow；　and　leaned　to　look；　quivering　with　excitement　and

uttering　explosive　〃chips〃；　for　there　he　was；　face　to　face　with　a

big　redbird　that　appeared　neither　peaceful　nor　timid。　　He　uttered

an　impudent　〃Chip〃　of　challenge；　which；　as　it　left　his　beak；　was

flung　back　to　him。　　The　Cardinal　flared　his　crest　and　half　lifted

his　wings；　stiffening　them　at　the　butt；　the　bird　he　was　facing

did　the　same。　　In　his　surprise　he　arose　to　his　full　height　with　a

dexterous　little　side　step；　and　the　other　bird　straightened　and

side…stepped　exactly　with　him。　　This　was　too　insulting　for　the

Cardinal。　　Straining　every　muscle；　he　made　a　dash　at　the　impudent

stranger。



He　struck　the　water　with　such　force　that　it　splashed　above　the

willows；　and　a　kingfisher；　stationed　on　a　stump　opposite　him；

watching　the　shoals　for　minnows；　saw　it。　　He　spread　his　beak　and

rolled　forth　rattling　laughter；　until　his　voice　reechoed　from

point　to　point　down　the　river。　　The　Cardinal　scarcely　knew　how　he

got　out；　but　he　had　learned　a　new　lesson。　　That　beautiful；

shining；　creeping　thing　was　water；　not　thick；　tepid；　black　marsh

water；　but　pure；　cool；　silver　water。　　He　shook　his　plumage；

feeling　a　degree　redder　from　shame；　but　he　would　not　be　laughed

into　leaving。　　He　found　it　too　delightful。　　In　a　short　time　he

ventured　down　and　took　a　sip；　and　it　was　the　first　real　drink　of

his　life。　　Oh；　but　it　was　good！



When　thirst　from　the　heat　and　his　long　flight　was　quenched；　he

ventured　in　for　a　bath；　and　that　was　a　new　and　delightful

experience。　　How　he　splashed　and　splashed；　and　sent　the　silver

drops　flying！　How　he　ducked　and　soaked　and　cooled　in　that

rippling　water；　in　which　he　might　remain　as　long　as　he　pleased

and　splash　his　fill；　for　he　could　see　the　bottom　for　a　long

distance　all　around；　and　easily　could　avoid　anything　attempting

to　harm　him。　　He　was　so　wet　when　his　bath　was　finished　he

scarcely　could　reach　a　bush　to　dry　and　dress　his　plumage。



Once　again　in　perfect　feather；　he　remembered　the　bird　of　the

water；　and　returned　to　the　willow。　　There　in　the　depths　of　the

shining　river　the　Cardinal　discovered　himself；　and　his　heart

swelled　big　with　just　pride。　　Was　that　broad　full　breast　his？　

Where　had　he　seen　any　other　cardinal　with　a　crest　so　high　it

waved　in　the　wind？　　How　big　and　black　his　eyes　were；　and　his

beard　was　almost　as　long　and　crisp　as　his　father's。　　He　spread

his　wings　and　gloated　on　their　sweep；　and　twisted　and　flirted　his

tail。　　He　went　over　his　toilet　again　and　dressed　every　feather　on

him。　　He　scoured　the　back　of　his　neck　with　the　butt　of　his　wings；

and　tucking　his　head　under　them；　slowly　drew　it　out　time　after

time　to　polish　his　crest。　　He　turned　and　twisted。　　He　rocked　and

paraded；　and　every　glimpse　he　caught　of　his　size　and　beauty

filled　him　with　pride。　　He　strutted　like　a　peacock　and　chattered

like　a　jay。



When　he　could　find　no　further　points　to　admire；　something　else

caught　his　attention。　　When　he　〃chipped〃　there　was　an　answering

〃Chip〃　across　the　river；　certainly　there　was　no　cardinal　there；

so　it　must　be　that　he　was　hearing　his　own　voice　as　well　as　seeing

himself。　　Selecting　a　conspicuous　perch　he　sent　an　incisive

〃Chip！〃　across　the　water；　and　in　kind　it　came　back　to　him。　　Then

he　〃chipped〃　softly　and　tenderly；　as　he　did　in　the　Limberlost　to

a　favourite　little　sister　who　often　came　and　perched　beside　him

in　the　maple　where　he　slept；　and　softly　and　tenderly　came　the

answer。　　Then　the　Cardinal　understood。　　〃Wheat！　Wheat！　Wheat！〃　

He　whistled　it　high；　and　he　whistled　it　low。　　〃Cheer！　Cheer！

Cheer！〃　　He　whistled　it　tenderly　and　sharply　and　imperiously。　

〃Here！　Here！　Here！〃　　At　this　ringing　command；　every　bird；　as　far

as　the　river　carried　his　voice；　came　to　investigate　and　remained

to　admire。　Over　and　over　he　rang　every　change　he　could　invent。　

He　made　a　gallant　effort　at　warbling　and　trilling；　and　then；　with

the　gladdest　heart　he　ever　had　known；　he　burst　into　ringing　song：

〃Good　Cheer！　Good　Cheer！　Good　Cheer！〃



As　evening　came　on　he　grew　restless　and　uneasy；　so　he　slowly

winged　his　way　back　to　the　Limberlost；　but　that　day　forever

spoiled　him　for　a　swamp　bird。　　In　the　night　he　restlessly　ruffled

his　feathers；　and　sniffed　for　the　breeze　of　the　meadows。　　He

tasted　the　corn　and　the　clear　water　again。　　He　admired　his　image

in　the　river；　and　longed　for　the　sound　of　his　voice；　until　he

began　murmuring；　〃Wheat！　Wheat！　Wheat！〃　in　his　sleep。　　In　the

earliest　dawn　a　robin　awoke　him　singing；　〃Cheer　up！　Cheer　up！〃

and　he　answered　with　a　sleepy　〃Cheer！　Cheer！　Cheer！〃　　Later　the

robin　sang　again　with　exquisite　softness　and　tenderness：　〃Cheer

up；　Dearie！　　Cheer　up；　Dearie！　Cheer　up！　Cheer　up！　Cheer！〃　　The

Cardinal；　now　fully　awakened；　shouted　lustily；　〃Good　Cheer！　Good

Cheer！〃　　and　after　that　it　was　only　a　short　time　until　he　was　on

his　way　toward　the　shining　river。　　It　was　better　than　before；　and

every　following　day　found　him　feasting　in　the　corn　field　and

bathing　in　the　shining　water；　but　he　always　returned　to　his

family　at　nightfall。



When　black　frosts　began　to　strip　the　Limberlost；　and　food　was

almost　reduced　to　dry　seed；　there　came　a　day　on　which　the　king

marshalled　his　followers　and　gave　the　magic　signal。　　With　dusk　he

led　them　southward；　mile　after　mile；　until　their　breath　fell

short；　and　their　wings　ached　with　unaccustomed　flight；　but

because　of　the　trips　to　the　river；　the　Cardinal　was　stronger　than

the　others；　and　he　easily　kept　abreast　of　the　king。　　In　the　early

morning；　even　before　the　robins　were　awake；　the　king　settled　in

the　Everglades。　　But　the　Cardinal　had　lost　all　liking　for　swamp

life；　so　he　stubbornly　set　out　alone；　and　in　a　short　time　he　had

found　another　river。　　It　was　not　quite　so　delightful　as　the

shining　river；　but　still　it　was　beautiful；　and　on　its　gently

sloping　bank　was　an　orange　orchard。　　There　the　Cardinal　r