otheleastdistended,leakiest,andflabbiestpaunched,thattherebenomistakeandthenthebowlgoesroundagainandagain,untilthesundispersesthemorningmist,andonlythepatriarchisnotunderthepond,butvainlybellowingtroonkfromtimetotime,andpausingforareply.
IamnotsurethatIeverheardthesoundofcock-crowingfrommyclearing,andIthoughtthatitmightbeworththewhiletokeepacockerelforhismusicmerely,asasingingbird.ThenoteofthisoncewildIndianpheasantiscertainlythemostremarkableofanybird’s,andiftheycouldbenaturalizedwithoutbeingdomesticated,itwouldsoonbecomethemostfamoussoundinourwoods,surpassingtheclangorofthegooseandthehootingoftheowlandthenimaginethecacklingofthehenstofillthepauseswhentheirlords’clarionsrested!Nowonderthatmanaddedthisbirdtohistamestock,—tosaynothingoftheeggsanddrumsticks.Towalkinawintermorninginawoodwherethesebirdsabounded,theirnativewoods,andhearthewildcockerelscrowonthetrees,clearandshrillformilesovertheresoundingearth,drowningthefeeblernotesofotherbirds,—thinkofit!Itwouldputnationsonthealert.Whowouldnotbeearlytorise,andriseearlierandearliereverysuccessivedayofhislife,tillhebecameunspeakablyhealthy,wealthy,andwise?Thisforeignbird’snoteiscelebratedbythepoetsofallcountriesalongwiththenotesoftheirnativesongsters.AllclimatesagreewithbraveChanticleer.Heismoreindigenouseventhanthenatives.Hishealthisevergood,hislungsaresound,hisspiritsneverflag.EventhesailorontheAtlanticandPacificisawakenedbyhisvoicebutitsshrillsoundneverrousedmefrommyslumbers.Ikeptneitherdog,cat,cow,pig,norhens,sothatyouwouldhavesaidtherewasadeficiencyofdomesticsoundsneitherthechurn,northespinningwheel,noreventhesingingofthekettle,northehissingoftheurn,norchildrencrying,tocomfortone.Anold-fashionedmanwouldhavelosthissensesordiedofennuibeforethis.Notevenratsinthewall,fortheywerestarvedout,orratherwereneverbaitedin,—onlysquirrelsontheroofandunderthefloor,awhippoorwillontheridgepole,ablue-jayscreamingbeneaththewindow,ahareorwoodchuckunderthehouse,ascreech-owloracat-owlbehindit,aflockofwildgeeseoralaughingloononthepond,andafoxtobarkinthenight.Notevenalarkoranoriole,thosemildplantationbirds,evervisitedmyclearing.Nocockerelstocrownorhenstocackleintheyard.Noyard!butunfencedNaturereachinguptoyourverysills.Ayoungforestgrowingupunderyourmeadows,andwildsumachsandblackberryvinesbreakingthroughintoyourcellarsturdypitchpinesrubbingandcreakingagainsttheshinglesforwantofroom,theirrootsreachingquiteunderthehouse.Insteadofascuttleorablindblownoffinthegale,—apinetreesnappedoffortornupbytherootsbehindyourhouseforfuel.Insteadofnopathtothefront-yardgateintheGreatSnow,—nogate,—nofront-yard,—andnopathtothecivilizedworld!