Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

The sultry heat awoke me - and I awoke unrefreshed from my sleep. A cold sponge off helped a little. I looked out-doors and saw from the darked dirt in the garden that a light shower had come down in the night. Sky was a thunderish one; the air was oppressive: more rain was to come.

A young robin, from the time it breaks the shell, until it is ready to fly always arouses amusement in me. As I was going out on the front porch I caught sight of a half-grown robin standing in the middle of the porch. How weak he looked, with legs bent inward. Catching sight of me, he ran around the corner and with a supreme effort, hopped upon the lower part of the porch-railing.  I went out to see how close I could come to him and also to ascertain what flying ability he had. Fearlessly he sat