BIRD CHORISTERS [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sia,—The interesting story of a bird worshipper in an English church, which appeared. recently in your columns, reminds me -of a somewhat similar incident in a Scottish kirk last year.
One Spring Sunday a pair of swallows revealed themselves just as the parish minister began the solemn " Let us worship God " of the northern ritual. During the instrumental introduction to the first singing the little strangers contented themselves with a few tentative pipings as if searching for the key-note. Soon, however, full-throated warblings from- above mingled with the increasing volume of praise from the congregation.
The remarkable thing here was the singularly appropriate nature of the service--unpremeditated, naturally. The 'Opening Psalm contained fitting reference to the swallows, " Even Thine own altars," &c., while the Versicles included " The time of the singing of the birds is come." The chil- dren's hymn declared that " Now the little birds arise-
Chirping gaily to the skies," find the hymn after service alluded to the happy state of • "-Birds that sing and fly Round thine altars," &e.
All this was accompanied by the feathe el songsters as they flitted from spandril to spandril or darted hither and thither high in the open timbers.
The sermon itself was not infrequently interrupted by `.-peepings " of sweet agreement and assent or shrill cries of protest and anger. (The minister's wife alleges there were avian snores !) Many notabilities from the South have worshipped in the tiny edifice, but never was there so un- expected an addition to the congregation or so apposite a welcome.—I am, Sir, &c.,
W. M.
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