the　remainder　every　other　worm　in　turn。　　They　were　unusually　fine
  babies；　but　what　chance　has　merely　a　fine　baby　in　a　family　that
  possesses　a　prodigy？　　The　Cardinal　was　as　large　as　any　two　of　the
  other　nestlings；　and　so　red　the　very　down　on　him　seemed　tinged
  with　crimson；　his　skin　and　even　his　feet　were　red。
  He　was　the　first　to　climb　to　the　edge　of　the　nest　and　the　first
  to　hop　on　a　limb。　　He　surprised　his　parents　by　finding　a　slug；
  and　winged　his　first　flight　to　such　a　distance　that　his　adoring
  mother　almost　went　into　spasms　lest　his　strength　might　fail；　and
  he　would　fall　into　the　swamp　and　become　the　victim　of　a　hungry
  old　turtle。　　He　returned　safely；　however；　and　the　king　was　so
  pleased　he　hunted　him　an　unusually　ripe　berry；　and　perching
  before　him；　gave　him　his　first　language　lesson。　　Of　course；　the
  Cardinal　knew　how　to　cry　〃Pee〃　and　〃Chee〃　when　he　burst　his
  shell；　but　the　king　taught　him　to　chip　with　accuracy　and
  expression；　and　he　learned　that　very　day　that　male　birds　of　the
  cardinal　family　always　call　〃Chip；〃　and　the　females　〃Chook。〃　　In
  fact；　he　learned　so　rapidly　and　was　generally　so　observant；　that
  before　the　king　thought　it　wise　to　give　the　next　lesson；　he　found
  him　on　a　limb；　his　beak　closed；　his　throat　swelling；　practising
  his　own　rendering　of　the　tribal　calls；　〃Wheat！　Wheat！　Wheat！〃
  〃Here！　Here！　Here！〃　and　〃Cheer！　Cheer！　Cheer！〃　　This　so　delighted
  the　king　that　he　whistled　them　over　and　over　and　helped　the
  youngster　all　he　could。
  He　was　so　proud　of　him　that　this　same　night　he　gave　him　his　first
  lesson　in　tucking　his　head　properly　and　going　to　sleep　alone。　　In
  a　few　more　days；　when　he　was　sure　of　his　wing　strength；　he　gave
  him　instructions　in　flying。　　He　taught　him　how　to　spread　his
  wings　and　slowly　sail　from　tree　to　tree；　how　to　fly　in　short
  broken　curves；　to　avoid　the　aim　of　a　hunter；　how　to　turn　abruptly
  in　air　and　make　a　quick　dash　after　a　bug　or　an　enemy。　　He　taught
  him　the　proper　angle　at　which　to　breast　a　stiff　wind；　and　that　he
  always　should　meet　a　storm　head　first；　so　that　the　water　would
  run　as　the　plumage　lay。
  His　first　bathing　lesson　was　a　pronounced　success。　　The　Cardinal
  enjoyed　water　like　a　duck。　　He　bathed；　splashed；　and　romped　until
  his　mother　was　almost　crazy　for　fear　he　would　attract　a
  watersnake　or　turtle；　but　the　element　of　fear　was　not　a　part　of
  his　disposition。　　He　learned　to　dry；　dress；　and　plume　his
  feathers；　and　showed　such　remarkable　pride　in　keeping　himself
  immaculate；　that　although　only　a　youngster；　he　was　already　a　bird
  of　such　great　promise；　that　many　of　the　feathered　inhabitants　of
  the　Limberlost　came　to　pay　him　a　call。
  Next；　the　king　took　him　on　a　long　trip　around　the　swamp；　and
  taught　him　to　select　the　proper　places　to　hunt　for　worms；　how　to
  search　under　leaves　for　plant…lice　and　slugs　for　meat；　which
  berries　were　good　and　safe；　and　the　kind　of　weeds　that　bore　the
  most　and　best　seeds。　　He　showed　him　how　to　find　tiny　pebbles　to
  grind　his　food；　and　how　to　sharpen　and　polish　his　beak。
  Then　he　took　up　the　real　music　lessons；　and　taught　him　how　to
  whistle　and　how　to　warble　and　trill。　　〃Good　Cheer！　Good　Cheer！〃
  intoned　the　king。　　〃Coo　Cher！　Coo　Cher！〃　imitated　the　Cardinal。
  These　songs　were　only　studied　repetitions；　but　there　was　a　depth
  and　volume　in　his　voice　that　gave　promise　of　future　greatness；
  when　age　should　have　developed　him；　and　experience　awakened　his
  emotions。　　He　was　an　excellent　musician　for　a　youngster。
  He　soon　did　so　well　in　caring　for　himself；　in　finding　food　and　in
  flight；　and　grew　so　big　and　independent；　that　he　made　numerous
  excursions　alone　through　the　Limberlost；　and　so　impressive　were
  his　proportions；　and　so　aggressive　his　manner；　that　he　suffered
  no　molestation。　　In　fact；　the　reign　of　the　king　promised　to　end
  speedily；　but　if　he　feared　it　he　made　no　sign；　and　his　pride　in
  his　wonderful　offspring　was　always　manifest。　　After　the　Cardinal
  had　explored　the　swamp　thoroughly；　a　longing　for　a　wider　range
  grew　upon　him；　and　day　after　day　he　lingered　around　the　borders；
  looking　across　the　wide　cultivated　fields；　almost　aching　to　test
  his　wings　in　one　long；　high；　wild　stretch　of　flight。
  A　day　came　when　the　heat　of　the　late　summer　set　the　marsh
  steaming；　and　the　Cardinal；　flying　close　to　the　borders；　caught
  the　breeze　from　the　upland；　and　the　vision　of　broad　fields
  stretching　toward　the　north　so　enticed　him　that　he　spread　his
  wings；　and　following　the　line　of　trees　and　fences　as　much　as
  possible；　he　made　his　first　journey　from　home。　　That　day　was　so
  delightful　it　decided　his　fortunes。　　It　would　seem　that　the
  swamp；　so　appreciated　by　his　kindred；　should　have　been　sufficient
  for　the　Cardinal；　but　it　was　not。　　With　every　mile　he　winged　his
  flight；　came　a　greater　sense　of　power　and　strength；　and　a　keener
  love　for　the　broad　sweep　of　field　and　forest。　　His　heart　bounded
  with　the　zest　of　rocking　on　the　wind；　racing　through　the
  sunshine；　and　sailing　over　the　endless　panorama　of　waving　corn
  fields；　and　woodlands。
  The　heat　and　closeness　of　the　Limberlost　seemed　a　prison　well
  escaped；　as　on　and　on　he　flew　in　straight　untiring　flight。
  Crossing　a　field　of　half…ripened　corn　that　sloped　to　the　river；
  the　Cardinal　saw　many　birds　feeding　there；　so　he　alighted　on　a
  tall　tree　to　watch　them。　　Soon　he　decided　that　he　would　like　to
  try　this　new　food。　　He　found　a　place　where　a　crow　had　left　an　ear
  nicely　laid　open；　and　clinging　to　the　husk；　as　he　saw　the　others
  do；　he　stretched　to　his　full　height　and　drove　his　strong　sharp
  beak　into　the　creamy　grain。　　After　the　stifling　swamp　hunting；
  after　the　long　exciting　flight；　to　rock　on　this　swaying　corn　and
  drink　the　rich　milk　of　the　grain；　was　to　the　Cardinal　his　first
  taste　of　nectar　and　ambrosia。　　He　lifted　his　head　when　he　came　to
  the　golden　kernel；　and　chipping　it　in　tiny　specks；　he　tasted　and
  approved　with　all　the　delight　of　an　epicure　in　a　delicious　new
  dish。
  Perhaps　there　were　other　treats　in　the　next　field。　　He　decided　to
  fly　even　farther。　　But　he　had　gone　only　a　short　distance　when　he
  changed　his　course　and　turned　to　the　South；　for　below　him　was　a
  long；　shining；　creeping　thing；　fringed　with　willows；　while
  towering　above　them　were　giant　sycamore；　maple；　tulip；　and　elm
  trees　that　caught　and　rocked　with　the　wind；　and　the　Cardinal　did
  not　know　what　it　was。　　Filled　with　wonder　he　dropped　lower　and
  lower。　　Birds　were　everywhere；　many　flying　over　and　dipping　into
  it；　but　its　clear　creeping　silver　was　a　mystery　to　the　Cardinal。
  The　beautiful　river　of　poetry　and　song　that　the　Indians　first
  discovered；　and　later　with　the　French；　named　Ouabache；　the
  winding　shining　river　that　Logan　and　Me…shin…go…me…sia　loved；　the
  only　river　that　could　tempt　Wa…ca…co…nah　from　the　Salamonie　and
  Mississinewa；　the　river　beneath　whose　silver　sycamores　and　giant
  maples　Chief　Godfrey　pitched　his　campfires；　was　never　more
  beautiful　than　on　that　perfect　autumn　day。
  With　his　feathers　pressed　closely；　the　Cardinal　alighted　on　a
  willow；　and　leaned　to　look；　quivering　with　excitement　and
  uttering　explosive　〃chips〃；　for　there　he　was；　face　to　face　with　a
  big　redbird　that　appeared　neither　peaceful　nor　timid。　　He　uttered
  an　impudent　〃Chip〃　of　challenge；　which；　as　it　left　his　beak；　was
  flung　back　to　him。　　The　Cardinal　flared　his　crest　and　half　lifted
  his　wings；　stiffening　them　at　the　butt；　the　bird　he　was　facing
  did　the　same。　　In　his　surprise　he　arose　to　his　full　height　with　a
  dexterous　little　side　step；　and　the　other　bird　straightened　and
  side…stepped　exactly　with　him。　　This　was　too　insulting　for　the
  Cardinal。　　Straining　every　muscle；　he　made　a　dash　at　the　impudent
  stranger。
  He　struck　the　water　with　such　force　that　it　splashed　above　the
  willows；　and　a　kingfisher；　stationed　on　a　stump　opposite　him；
  watching　the　shoals　for　minnows；　saw　it。　　He　spread　his　beak　and
  rolled　forth　rattling　laughter；　until　his　voice　reechoed　from
  point　to　point　down　the　river。　　The　Cardinal　scarcely　knew　how　he
  got　out；　but　he　had　learned　a　new　lesson。　　That　beautiful；
  shining；　creeping　thing　was　water；　not　thick；　tepid；　black　marsh
  water；　but　pure；　cool；　silver　water。　　He　shook　his　plumage；
  feeling　a　degree　redder　from　shame；　but　he　would　not　be　laughed
  into　leaving。　　He　found　it　too　delightful。　　In　a　short　time　he
  ventured　down　and　took　a　sip；　and　it　was　the　first　real　drink　of
  his　life。　　Oh；　but　it　was　good！
  When　thirst　from　the　heat　and　his　long　flight　was　quenched；　he
  ventured　in　for　a　bath；　and　that　was　a　new　and　delightful
  experience。　　How　he　splashed　and　splashed；　and　sent　the　silver
  drops　flying！　How　he　ducked　and　soaked　and　cooled　in　that
  rippling　water；　in　which　he　might　remain　as　long　as　he　pleased
  and　splash　his　fill；　for　he　could　see　the　bottom　for　a　long
  distance　all　around；　and　easily　could　avoid　anything　attempting
  to　harm　him。　　He　was　so　wet　when　his　bath　was　finished　he
  scarcely　could　reach　a　bush　to　dry　and　dress　his　plumage。