mould　as　he　passed。
  Maria；　staring　at　his　flushed　face　and　shining　eyes；　recognized
  that　his　whole　being　proclaimed　an　inward　exultation。
  〃Abram　Johnson；〃　she　solemnly　demanded；　〃have　you　got　the　power？〃
  〃Yes；〃　cried　Abram；　pulling　off　his　old　felt　hat；　and　gazing　into
  the　crown　as　if　for　inspiration。　　〃You've　said　it；　honey！　　I　got
  the　power！　　Got　it　of　a　little　red　bird！　Power　o'　spring！　　Power
  o'　song！　　Power　o'　love！　　If　that　poor　little　red　target　for　some
  ornery　cuss's　bullet　can　get　all　he's　getting　out　o'　life　to…day；
  there's　no　cause　why　a　reasonin'　thinkin'　man　shouldn't　realize
  some　o'　his　blessings。　　You　hit　it；　Maria；　I　got　the　power。　　It's
  the　power　o'　God；　but　I　learned　how　to　lay　hold　of　it　from　that
  little　red　bird。　　Come　here；　Maria！〃
  Abram　wrapped　the　lines　around　the　plow　handle；　and　cautiously
  led　his　wife　to　the　fence。　　He　found　a　piece　of　thick　bark　for
  her　to　stand　on；　and　placed　her　where　she　would　be　screened　by　a
  big　oak。　　Then　he　stood　behind　her　and　pointed　out　the　sumac　and
  the　female　bird。
  〃Jest　you　keep　still　a　minute；　an'　you'll　feel　paid　for　comin'
  all　right；　honey；〃　he　whispered；　〃but　don't　make　any　sudden
  movement。〃
  〃I　don't　know　as　I　ever　saw　a　worse…lookin'　specimen　'an　she　is；〃
  answered　Maria。
  〃She　looks　first…class　to　him。　　There's　no　kick　comin'　on　his
  part；　I　can　tell　you；〃　replied　Abram。
  The　bride　hopped　shyly　through　the　sumac。　　She　pecked　at　the
  dried　berries；　and　frequently　tried　to　improve　her　plumage；　which
  certainly　had　been　badly　draggled；　and　there　was　a　drop　of　blood
  dried　at　the　base　of　her　beak。　　She　plainly　showed　the　effects　of
  her　rough　experience；　and　yet　she　was　a　most　attractive　bird；　for
  the　dimples　in　her　plump　body　showed　through　the　feathers；　and
  instead　of　the　usual　wickedly　black　eyes　of　the　cardinal　family；
  hers　were　a　soft　tender　brown　touched　by　a　love…light　there　was
  no　mistaking。　　She　was　a　beautiful　bird；　and　she　was　doing　all　in
  her　power　to　make　herself　dainty　again。　　Her　movements　clearly
  indicated　how　timid　she　was；　and　yet　she　remained　in　the　sumac　as
  if　she　feared　to　leave　it；　and　frequently　peered　expectantly
  among　the　tree…tops。
  There　was　a　burst　of　exultation　down　the　river。　　The　little　bird
  gave　her　plumage　a　fluff；　and　watched　anxiously。　　On　came　the
  Cardinal　like　a　flaming　rocket；　calling　to　her　on　wing。　　He
  alighted　beside　her；　dropped　into　her　beak　a　morsel　of　food；　gave
  her　a　kiss　to　aid　digestion；　caressingly　ran　his　beak　the　length
  of　her　wing　quills；　and　flew　to　the　dogwood。　　Mrs。　Cardinal
  enjoyed　the　meal。　　It　struck　her　palate　exactly　right。　　She　liked
  the　kiss　and　caress；　cared；　in　fact；　for　all　that　he　did　for　her；
  and　with　the　appreciation　of　his　tenderness　came　repentance　for
  the　dreadful　chase　she　had　led　him　in　her　foolish　fright；　and　an
  impulse　to　repay。　　She　took　a　dainty　hop　toward　the　dogwood；　and
  the　invitation　she　sent　him　was　exquisite。　　With　a　shrill　whistle
  of　exultant　triumph　the　Cardinal　answered　at　a　headlong　rush。
  The　farmer's　grip　tightened　on　his　wife's　shoulder；　but　Maria
  turned　toward　him　with　blazing；　tear…filled　eyes。　　〃An'　you　call
  yourself　a　decent　man；　Abram　Johnson？〃
  〃Decent？〃　quavered　the　astonished　Abram。　　〃Decent？　　I　believe　I
  am。〃
  〃I　believe　you　ain't；〃　hotly　retorted　his　wife。　　〃You　don't　know
  what　decency　is；　if　you　go　peekin'　at　them。　　They　ain't　birds！
  They're　folks！〃
  〃Maria；〃　pled　Abram；　〃Maria；　honey。〃
  〃I　am　plumb　ashamed　of　you；〃　broke　in　Maria。　　〃How　d'you　s'pose
  she'd　feel　if　she　knew　there　was　a　man　here　peekin'　at　her？
  Ain't　she　got　a　right　to　be　lovin'　and　tender？　Ain't　she　got　a
  right　to　pay　him　best　she　knows？　　They're　jest　common　human
  bein's；　an'　I　don't　know　where　you　got　privilege　to　spy　on　a
  female　when　she's　doin'　the　best　she　knows。〃
  Maria　broke　from　his　grasp　and　started　down　the　line　fence。
  In　a　few　strides　Abram　had　her　in　his　arms；　his　withered　cheek
  with　its　springtime　bloom　pressed　against　her　equally　withered；
  tear…stained　one。
  〃Maria；〃　he　whispered；　waveringly；　〃Maria；　honey；　I　wasn't
  meanin'　any　disrespect　to　the　sex。〃
  Maria　wiped　her　eyes　on　the　corner　of　her　shawl。　　〃I　don't　s'pose
  you　was；　Abram；〃　she　admitted；　〃but　you're　jest　like　all　the　rest
  o'　the　men。　　You　never　think！　　Now　you　go　on　with　your　plowin'
  an'　let　that　little　female　alone。〃
  She　unclasped　his　arms　and　turned　homeward。
  〃Honey；〃　called　Abram　softly；　〃since　you　brought　'em　that
  pocketful　o'　wheat；　you　might　as　well　let　me　have　it。〃
  〃Landy！〃　exclaimed　Maria；　blushing；　〃I　plumb　forgot　my　wheat！　　I
  thought　maybe；　bein'　so　early；　pickin'　was　scarce；　an'　if　you'd
  put　out　a　little　wheat　an'　a　few　crumbs；　they'd　stay　an'　nest　in
  the　sumac；　as　you're　so　fond　o'　them。〃
  〃Jest　what　I'm　fairly　prayin'　they'll　do；　an'　I　been　carryin'
  stuff　an'　pettin'　him　up　best　I　knowed　for　a　week；〃　said　Abram；
  as　he　knelt；　and　cupped　his　shrunken　hands；　while　Maria　guided
  the　wheat　from　her　apron　into　them。　　〃I'll　scatter　it　along　the
  top　rail；　an'　they'll　be　after　it　in　fifteen　minutes。　　Thank　you；
  Maria。　　'T　was　good　o'　you　to　think　of　it。〃
  Maria　watched　him　steadily。　　How　dear　he　was！　How　dear　he　always
  had　been！　　How　happy　they　were　together！　〃Abram；〃　she　asked；
  hesitatingly；　〃is　there　anything　else　I　could　do　foryour
  birds？〃
  They　were　creatures　of　habitual　repression；　and　the　inner
  glimpses　they　had　taken　of　each　other　that　day　were　surprises
  they　scarcely　knew　how　to　meet。　　Abram　said　nothing；　because　he
  could　not。　　He　slowly　shook　his　head；　and　turned　to　the　plow；　his
  eyes　misty。　　Maria　started　toward　the　line　fence；　but　she　paused
  repeatedly　to　listen；　and　it　was　no　wonder；　for　all　the　redbirds
  from　miles　down　the　river　had　gathered　around　the　sumac　to　see　if
  there　were　a　battle　in　birdland；　but　it　was　only　the　Cardinal；
  turning　somersaults　in　the　air；　and　screaming　with　bursting
  exuberance：　〃Come　here！　Come　here！〃
  Chapter　4
  〃So　dear！　So　dear！〃　crooned　the　Cardinal
  She　had　taken　possession　of　the　sumac。　　The　location　was　her
  selection　and　he　loudly　applauded　her　choice。　　She　placed　the
  first　twig；　and　after　examining　it　carefully；　he　spent　the　day
  carrying　her　others　just　as　much　alike　as　possible。　　If　she　used
  a　dried　grass　blade；　he　carried　grass　blades　until　she　began
  dropping　them　on　the　ground。　　If　she　worked　in　a　bit　of　wild
  grape…vine　bark；　he　peeled　grape…vines　until　she　would　have　no
  more。　　It　never　occurred　to　him　that　he　was　the　largest　cardinal
  in　the　woods；　in　those　days；　and　he　had　forgotten　that　he　wore　a
  red　coat。　　She　was　not　a　skilled　architect。　　Her　nest　certainly
  was　a　loose　ramshackle　affair；　but　she　had　built　it；　and　had
  allowed　him　to　help　her。　　It　was　hers；　and　he　improvised　a　paean
  in　its　praise。　　Every　morning　he　perched　on　the　edge　of　the　nest
  and　gazed　in　songless　wonder　at　each　beautiful　new　egg；　and
  whenever　she　came　to　brood　she　sat　as　if　entranced；　eyeing　her
  treasures　in　an　ecstasy　of　proud　possession。
  Then　she　nestled　them　against　her　warm　breast；　and　turned　adoring
  eyes　toward　the　Cardinal。　　If　he　sang　from　the　dogwood；　she　faced
  that　way。　　If　he　rocked　on　the　wild　grape…vine；　she　turned　in　her
  nest。　　If　he　went　to　the　corn　field　for　grubs；　she　stood　astride
  her　eggs　and　peered　down；　watching　his　every　movement　with
  unconcealed　anxiety。　　The　Cardinal　forgot　to　be　vain　of　his
  beauty；　she　delighted　in　it　every　hour　of　the　day。　　Shy　and　timid
  beyond　belief　she　had　been　during　her　courtship；　but　she　made
  reparation　by　being　an　incomparably　generous　and　devoted　mate。
  And　the　Cardinal！　He　was　astonished　to　find　himself　capable　of　so
  much　and　such　varied　feeling。　　It　was　not　enough　that　he　brooded
  while　she　went　to　bathe　and　exercise。　　The　daintiest　of　every
  morsel　he　found　was　carried　to　her。　　When　she　refused　to　swallow
  another　particle；　he　perched　on　a　twig　close　by　the　nest　many
  times　in　a　day；　and　with　sleek　feathers　and　lowered　crest；　gazed
  at　her　in　silent　worshipful　adoration。
  Up　and　down　the　river　bank　he　flamed　and　rioted。　　In　the　sumac　he
  uttered　not　the　faintest　〃Chip！〃　that　might　attract　attention。
  He　was　so　anxious　to　be　inconspicuous　that　he　appeared　only　half
  his　real　size。　　Always　on　leaving　he　gave　her　a　tender　little
  peck　and　ran　his　beak　the　length　of　her　winga　characteristic
  caress　that　he　delighted　to　bestow　on　her。
  If　he　felt　that　he　was　disturbing　her　too　often；　he　perched　on
  the　dogwood　and　sang　for　life；　and　love；　and　happiness。　　His
  music　was　in　a　minor　key　now。　　The　high；　exultant；　ringing　notes
  of　passion　were　mellowed　and　subdued。　　He　was　improvising　cradle
  songs　and　lullabies。　　He　was　telling　her　how　he　loved　her；　how　he
  would　fight　for　her；　how　he　was　watching　over　her；　how　he　would
  signal　if　any　danger　were　approaching；　how　proud　he　was　of　her；
  what　a　perfect　nest　she　had　built；　how　beautiful　he　thou