Blackbirds, Christmas Eve, At the Tenant House Summary

In "Blackbirds," a huge flock of blackbirds lands in a tree. Cissy watches, amazed as the flock turns as one and lands in a group. Jim joins her and asks how many there are. Cissy says she doesn't know and guesses hundreds, thousands, or a multitude. Jim then asks how many birds would likely be killed if Uncle Zeno were to fire a shotgun into the tree. She's upset and asks why he should think of that and why he believes Uncle Zeno would want to kill the birds. When he guesses Zeno could kill a hundred or more with one shot, she begins to cry. Then she rushes toward the tree, waving her apron and scaring the birds away.

In "Cold Nights," Cissy is writing a letter to Whitey. The...