Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, March 18, 1911

This has been a dull lifeless day - a day of grey misty clouds and chill breezes; only in the afternoon did the sun send its dim light over the land, - a wet cold land.

In the afternoon we saw a funny sight. Mother happened to look out of the window, and she told me to look out. There is a little apple tree in our backyard close to the grape-arbor. In it was a whole flock of sparrows - a motley collection of little big creatures, that looked like little balls as they sat huddled up on the limbs, longingly looking towards the house waiting for bread. On the telephone wire above was a big robin all hunched up, and on each side of him was a sparrow. Occasionally the robin would turn around and face the opposite direction; the two sparrows would do likewise. Finally mother quietly opened the door and threw out some pieces of bread; the robin flew away but the sparrows came down one by one getting a piece and flying away out of sight.