NEAR NATURE’S HEART
A VOLUME OF VERSE
BY CRAWFORD JACKSON
ATLANTA, GA. and GUILFORD, N. C.
FOOTE & DAVIES COMPANY, PRINTERS, ATLANTA GULBENK ENGRAVING COMPANY, ENGRAVERS, ATLANTA
COPYRIGHT 1923 BY CRAWFORD JACKSON (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)
DEDICATED TO EVERY CHILD
FOREWORD
The great artist is one whose whole body becomes a living soul; whose eye gets glimpses into the heart of Nature, with visions of the Supernatural; whose ear hears their inner music, and whose hand produces ecstatic expression of their central force in some revelation of Beauty. And to make his art more real, more nearly perfect, Beauty more beautiful, such artist by contrast often depicts or suggests the deadly but doomed discords of life.
Any inspiring touch I have with Nature makes me less than half content with the best I can say of her. Beyond my increasing love for the rich, old Mother—yet eternally young and myriad formed—I am deeply indebted to F. Schuyler Mathews and his charming “Field Book of Wild Birds and Their Music,” especially in suggestions and some illustrations for the “Birds’ Orchestra.” Other acknowledgements are made elsewhere in this little volume of verse, which chances to be my first, and therefore subject to the severer criticism.
C. J.
ILLUSTRATIONS
BOB-WHITE.
By F. Schuyler Matthews.
[Pg 7]
The Birds’ Orchestra
THE DAWN
Cat Bird. Photo by the Author.
YOUNG SCREECH OWL. Photo by Rev. Wallace Rogers.
HUMMING BIRD. By F. Schuyler Matthews.
WHITE THROATED SPARROWS. Photo by the Author.
[Pg 10]
BLUEBIRD AND FAMILY. Photo by the Author.
[Pg 11]
YOUNG MALE CARDINAL TRYING TO LIGHT ON BOUQUET OF FLOWERS. Snapped by the Author.
THRASHER’S ADMIRATION. Photo by Author.
Cardinal
By courtesy of G. P. Putnam Sons, Publishers, and P. Schuyler Matthews, Author of “Book of Birds For Young People.”
[Pg 13]
HIGH NOON
TWILIGHT
A SCENE IN WASHINGTON, N. C.
THE FAMILY OF MY FRIEND JONES
ONE OF THE NINE AMBITIONS TO RISE.
Veery celebrating the King’s Marriage.
The original, with male and female Veery, furnished by courtesy National Association Audubon Societies, with changes by the Author’s Artist.
[Pg 19]
THE HERMIT THRUSH[7]
(Published in the Methodist Review, July, 1919).
THE HERMIT THRUSH.
[Pg 21]
Turtle Dove and Bluebirds.
Chipmunk—Note his pockets well-filled with grain to be carried to his granary.
“Brownie,” a young pet Thrasher, raised by Artena.
At Lunch—Snapped at the Memphis Zoo.
Pet Macaw. See p. 84.
His Majesty, The Swan.
Photos by the Author.
[Pg 23]
MY RETREAT
Young Green Heron.
[Pg 24] Photos by the author.
THE MOCKING-BIRD
Mocking-bird
By courtesy of G. P. Putnam Sons, Publishers, and F. Schuyler Matthews, Author of “Book of Birds For Young People.” Sketched originally for this volume.
[Pg 26]
THE JAY AND I—A DIALOGUE
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