36 LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN. 



possess, and with no flourish before or after. 

 Like the bird's dress, it was perfect in its 

 simplicity. I felt thankfid, too, that I had 

 waited till now to hear it. Things should 

 be desired before they are enjoyed. It was 

 another case of the schoolboy and his tart ; 

 and I went home good-humored. Lookout 

 Mountain was not wholly ruined, after all. 



The next day found me there again, to 

 my own surprise, for I had promised myself 

 a trip down the river to Shellmound. In 

 all the street cars, as well as in the city 

 newspapers, this excursion was set forth as 

 supremely enjoyable, a luxury on no account 

 to be missed, — a fine commodious steamer, 

 and all the usual concomitants. The kind 

 people with whom I was sojourning, on Cam- 

 eron Hill, hastened the family breakfast 

 that I might be in season ; but on arriving 

 at the wharf I found no sign of the steamer, 

 and, after sundry attempts to ascertain the 

 condition of affairs, I learned that the 

 steamer did not run now. The river was 

 no longer high enough, it was explained ; a 

 smaller boat would go, or might be expected 

 to go, some hours later. Little disposed to 

 hang about the landing for several hours, 



