A MOUNTAIN POND 103 



Nature has made her a queen, and dowered 

 her with queenly prerogatives, one of which, 

 by universal consent, is the right to choose 

 for herself the father of her royal children. 



Like Mrs. Thaxter, I stayed with my bird 

 till I was tired with watching such preter- 

 natural activity; and the next day I re- 

 turned to the place, hoping to tire myself 

 again in the same delightful manner. But 

 the phalarope was no longer there. Up and 

 down the road I went, scanning the edges of 

 the pond, but the bird had flown. I wished 

 her safely over the mountains, and a mate 

 to her heart's liking at the end of the jour- 

 ney. 



