to harm him. He was so wet when his bath was finished he
scarcely could reach a bush to dry and dress his plumage.

Once again in perfect feather, he remembered the bird of the
water, and returned to the willow. There in the depths of the
shining river the Cardinal discovered himself, and his heart
swelled big with just pride. Was that broad full breast his?
Where had he seen any other cardinal with a crest so high it
waved in the wind? How big and black his eyes were, and his
beard was almost as long and crisp as his father's. He spread
his wings and gloated on their sweep, and twisted and flirted his
tail. He went over his toilet again and dressed every feather on
him. He scoured the back of his neck with the butt of his wings,
and tucking his head under them, slowly drew it out time after
time to polish his crest. He turned and twisted. He rocked and
paraded, and every glimpse he caught of his size and beauty
filled him with pride. He strutted like a peacock and chattered
like a jay.

When he could find no further points to admire, something else
caught his attention. When he "chipped" there was an answering
"Chip" across the river; certainly there was no cardinal there,
so it must be that he was hearing his own voice as well as seeing
himself. Selecting a conspicuous perch he sent an incisive
"Chip!" across the water, and in kind it came back to him. Then
he "chipped" softly and tenderly, as he did in the Limberlost to
a favourite little sister who often came and perched beside him
in the maple where he slept, and softly and tenderly came the
answer. Then the Cardinal understood. "Wheat! Wheat! Wheat!"
He whistled it high, and he whistled it low. "Cheer! Cheer!