When they
noticed a tall woman with white face and hair and black dress, one by
one they stepped a little aside, so that Mrs. Comstock could see the
stage. It was covered with curtains, and no one was doing anything. Just
as she turned to go a sound so faint that every one leaned forward and
listened, drifted down the auditorium. It was difficult to tell just
what it was; after one instant half the audience looked toward the
windows, for it seemed only a breath of wind rustling freshly opened
leaves; merely a hint of stirring air.
Then the curtains were swept aside swiftly. The stage had been
transformed into a lovely little corner of creation, where trees and
flowers grew and moss carpeted the earth. A soft wind blew and it was
the gray of dawn. Suddenly a robin began to sing, then a song sparrow
joined him, and then several orioles began talking at once. The light
grew stronger, the dew drops trembled, flower perfume began to creep out
to the audience; the air moved the branches gently and a rooster crowed.
Then all the scene was shaken with a babel of bird notes in which you
could hear a cardinal whistling, and a blue finch piping. Back somewhere
among the high branches a dove cooed and then a horse neighed shrilly.
That set a blackbird crying, "T'check," and a whole flock answered it.
The crows began to caw and a lamb bleated. Then the grosbeaks, chats,
and vireos had something to say, and the sun rose higher, the light grew
stronger and the breeze rustled the treetops loudly; a cow bawled and
the whole barnyard answered.
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