WATER SCENERY. 69 



hangs its brambles over the stream, and tempts her with 

 delicate clusters of raspberries, and other delicious fruits. 

 How, if she takes pleasure in the happiness of human 

 beings, must she be charmed by witnessing the plenty 

 which is everywhere diffused by the crystal waters of her 

 own stream ; the countless farms rendered fertile and 

 productive through its agency ; the numerous mill-seats 

 that derive their power from its falls and rapids, and 

 gather the industrious inhabitants in smiling hamlets 

 upon its banks ! A river, when pursuing its winding 

 course along the plain, alternately appearing and disap- 

 pearing among the hills and woods, suggests the idea 

 of a pleasant journey, and is peculiarly emblematical of 

 human progress. It always seems to me that it must 

 conduct one to some happier region, and that if I traced 

 it to its source, I should be led into the very temple of 

 the Naiads ! 



With the different forms of water are associated nearly 

 all the pleasant images of rural life. To one who is tired 

 of his busy employments in the city, a rural retreat is 

 like a cool breeze to the traveller in a sultry desert. A 

 little arbor, that overlooks a river, a lake, or an arm of 

 the sea, derives its charms almost wholly from the water, 

 which is at the same time the symbol of peace and plenty, 

 and the mirror of heaven. A hermitage by the side of a 

 stream affords a secret retreat, still more delightful from 

 its fancied association with pious seclusion from the 

 world. Every flower that looks up to us from the green, 

 mossy turf ; every bird that warbles in the neighboring 

 copse ; and every insect that hums in the herbage at our 

 feet, has a soothing influence, that for a season dispels 

 every care and every feverish excitement. Then do we 

 feel that nature only has power to administer that solace 

 which is balm to the soul when one is vexed with care 

 and weary of men. 



