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The Song of the Cardinal-Part1_Gene Stratton-Porter(1863-1924)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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was the individual pressure that distinguished it from the

others. It was the first to hatch, of course, and the queen felt



that she had enough if all the others failed her; for this egg

pipped with a resounding pip, and before the silky down was



really dry on the big terracotta body, the young Cardinal arose

and lustily demanded food.



The king came to see him and at once acknowledged subjugation.

He was the father of many promisingcardinals, yet he never had



seen one like this. He set the Limberlost echoes rolling with

his jubilant rejoicing. He unceasingly hunted for the ripest



berries and seed. He stuffed that baby from morning until night,

and never came with food that he did not find him standing a-top



the others calling for more. The queen was just as proud of him

and quite as foolish in her idolatry, but she kept tally and gave



the remainder every other worm in turn. They were unusually fine

babies, but what chance has merely a fine baby in a family that



possesses a prodigy? The Cardinal was as large as any two of the

other nestlings, and so red the very down on him seemed tinged



with crimson; his skin and even his feet were red.

He was the first to climb to the edge of the nest and the first



to hop on a limb. He surprised his parents by finding a slug,

and winged his first flight to such a distance that his adoring



mother almost went into spasms lest his strength might fail, and

he would fall into the swamp and become the victim of a hungry



old turtle. He returned safely, however; and the king was so

pleased he hunted him an unusually ripe berry, and perching



before him, gave him his first language lesson. Of course, the

Cardinal knew how to cry "Pee" and "Chee" when he burst his



shell; but the king taught him to chip with accuracy and

expression, and he learned that very day that male birds of the



cardinal family always call "Chip," and the females "Chook." In

fact, he learned so rapidly and was generally so observant, that



before the king thought it wise to give the next lesson, he found

him on a limb, his beak closed, his throat swelling, practising



his own rendering of the tribal calls, "Wheat! Wheat! Wheat!"

"Here! Here! Here!" and "Cheer! Cheer! Cheer!" This so delighted



the king that he whistled them over and over and helped the

youngster all he could.



He was so proud of him that this same night he gave him his first

lesson in tucking his head properly and going to sleep alone. In



a few more days, when he was sure of his wing strength, he gave

him instructions in flying. He taught him how to spread his



wings and slowly sail from tree to tree; how to fly in short

broken curves, to avoid the aim of a hunter; how to turn abruptly



in air and make a quick dash after a bug or an enemy. He taught

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,






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