fleeted sands of Syrian deserts; Lebanon, alternately warmed by the hot breath of the sirocco and cooled by the sea breezes so near; Lebanon, with her rivers, valleys, and high mountains; with her air perfumed by the heavy fragrance of blooming spring flowers, fruit bloom, tree bloom, and her hills and valleys covered with budding camphire, acacia, and many varieties of spice bushes, and every breath heavy with the exhilaration of the resinous odor of cedar, cypress, and fir. In Lebanon's great fir trees, with their flat branches. making splendid foundations, the big white storks found their houses. Mated pairs renewed their yearly vows, and repaired their former abodes. Young ones courted strenuously, the males dancing and performing many antics, extremely queer to those watching, but captivating to their loved ones. For the storks have been noted in all lands and times for their tender and affectionate love between pairs and young. People in later days in Holland have so marked these birds before migration that there could be no doubt but the same ones returned in the spring. Unquestionably, storks mate for life. In the big, dark fir trees of the Holy Land they built their homes, laid their eggs, and raised their young. They fished in the waters, and hunted frogs and lizards over the mountains. To their varied diet found by water edges, on mountain sides and plains, they added reptiles, offal, and garbage, which of course had something to do with placing them among the "abominations." At home they made an exquisite picture of snowy contrast against their dark-green background, or when fishing; and seen against the Oriental skies on wing they were wonderful to behold. I think Solomon showed the beauty of the house of the white stork among the fir trees to the Queen of Sheba when he took her to the treasure chamber in the forest of Lebanon. I wish that all of us could have been there to have seen such an impressive picture. THE RAVEN "Consider the raven, that they sow not, neither reap: Which have no store-chamber nor barn; and God feedeth them."-JESUS. |