Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, May 30, 1914

Today’s was a wonderful morning!  The blue sky was so clear and fresh that it seemed to resound! And the hot bright sunshine dazzled the eye as it fell on the fresh green trees and bushes and grass.  The breeze was brisk and cold – I was about to say it was a fine June Day but such days are peculiar to no solitary month of the year.  They come at any time and always unexpectedly.

About mid-morning we all, except Jim, who was working in his garden, went into Hope Cemetery to put flowers on our grandparents’ graves.  Snow-balls and lilacs had been added to my wild-flowers.

I saw an oriole in our largest apple-tree and all the beauty and freshness of such a morning are aptly expressed in his brilliant coloring and strong healthy song.  A robin caught sight of him and chased him away; no doubt one of his offspring was in the vicinity.

The wren was busy at work all day.  The joyousness with which he sang was an inspiration.  The sparrows were hostile to him, and when they were after him, then is when he sang his loudest and fastest!  He was more than a match for them, easily putting them to route, for the sparrows is a coward thru and thru.

Charles E. Burchfield, May 30, 1914