i9o8 THE CANALS OF FRANCE 47 



Roanne to the sea. The personnel will coordinate the efforts made 



who have the care of canals have also throughout the country, so that the re- 



the supervision of rivers, and the num- suit will be a harmonious whole and 



ber of navigable kilometers increases that prosperity reaches every part of 



from year to year ; it has now reached this land, is proportionately great, 



eight thousand. The principles which govern the 



Thus are we working in order to question are happily familiar to you, 



turn to the best possible use the na- and you well know that if the Missis- 



tural resources of our country, those sippi is the "father of waters," the for- 



resources which the rashness of iso- est is the father of the Mississippi; 



lated individuals would often destroy. We watch with friendly interest what 



if Parliament did not interfere in the you are doing in this line, and we are 



interest of the many. As the meeting confident that your ship of state will 



of this very congress shows, you are ride the waves as ours has done for 



bent on doing the same, on a scale so many centuries, a ship that may 



proportionate to the immensity of your know storms, but shall never founder. 



territory and of your resources. The "Fliictuat nee mergitur." 

 importance of the general plan which 



IN THE HEART OF THE WOODS 



Such beautiful things in the heart of the 

 woods! 

 Flowers and ferns and the soft green 

 moss; 

 Such love of the birds in the solitudes, 

 Where the swift winds glance and the 

 tree tops toss; 

 Spaces of silence swept with song, 

 Which nobody hears but the God 

 above; 

 Spaces where myriad creatures throng, 

 Sunning themselves in his guarding 

 love. 



Such safety and peace in the heart of the 

 woods, 

 Far from the city's dust and din, 

 Where passion nor hat6 nor man in- 

 trudes, 

 Nor fashion nor folly has entered in. 

 Deeper than hunter's trail hath gone 

 Glimmers the tarn where the wild 

 deer drink; 

 And fearless and free comes the gentle 

 fawn, 

 To peep at herself o'er the grassy 

 brink. 



Such pledges of love in the heart of the 

 woods! 

 For the Maker of all things keeps the 

 feast, 

 And over the tiny flowers broods 



With care that for ages has never 

 ceased. 

 If he cares for this, will he not for thee — 



Thee, wherever thou art to-day? 

 Child of an infinite Father, see; 

 And safe in such gentlest keeping stay. 



— Margaret E. Sangster. 



