The Song of the Cardinal | Page 5

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, 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