158 



A VISIT TO MONTGOMERY PLACE. 



Fi;?. 27. The Lake. 



border of the stream, and following it 

 past one or two distracting- points, where 

 other paths, starting out at various angles, 

 seem provokingly to tempt one away from 

 the neighborhood of the water, we sudden- 

 ly behold, with a feeling of delight. The 

 Lake. 



Nothing can have a more charming ef- 

 fect than this natural mirror in the bosom 

 of the valley. It is a fine expansion of 

 the same stream, which farther down forms 

 the large cataract. Here it sleeps, as lazi- 

 ly and glassily as if quite incapable of 

 aught but reflecting the beauty of the 

 blue sky, and the snowy clouds, that float 

 over it. On two sides, it is overhung and 

 deeply shaded by the bowery thickets of the 

 surrounding wilderness ; on the third is a 

 peninsula, fringed with the graceful willow, 

 and rendered more attractive by a rustic 

 temple; while the fourth side is more sun- 

 ny and open, and permits a peep at the 

 distant azure mountain tops. 



This part of the grounds is seen to the 

 most advantage, either toward evening, or 

 in moonlight. Then the effect of contrast 

 in light and shadow is most striking, and 

 the seclusion and beauty of the spot are 



more fully enjoyed than at any other hour. 

 Then you will most certainly be tempted to 

 leave the curious rustic seat, with its roof 

 wrapped round with a rude entablature like 

 Pluto's crown; and you will take a seat in 

 Psyche's boat, on whose prow is poised a 

 giant butterfly, that looks so mysteriously 

 down into the depths below as to impress 

 you with a belief that it is the metempsy- 

 chosis of the spirit of the place, guarding 

 against all unhallowed violation of its puri- 

 ty and solitude. 



The peninsula, on the north of the lake, 

 is carpeted with the dry leaves of the thick 

 cedars that cover it, and form so umbrage- 

 ous a resting place that the sky over it seems 

 absolutely dusky at noon day. On its nor- 

 thern bank is a rude sofa, formed entirely 

 of stone. Here you linger again, to wonder 

 afresh at the novelty and beauty of the 

 second cascade. The stream here emerges 

 from a dark thicket, falls about twenty feet, 

 and then rushes away on the side of the pe- 

 ninsula opposite the lake. Although only 

 separated by a short walk and the mass of 

 cedars on the promontory, from the lake 

 itself, yet one cannot be seen from the other ; 

 and the lake, so full of the very spirit of 



