The Road to Dumbiedykes 



Through the treetops a glimpse of an 

 azure sky is caught. Here indeed is 

 the true heart of Midlothian to be 

 found, and at this shrine I often stop 

 alone and worship. 



The third purpose served by our 

 little lakelet is strictly utilitarian. 

 Some day late in the autumn the big 

 valve in the dam is opened. The water 

 nearly all escapes and soon is on its 

 way to the Little Calumet, and thence 

 into the bosom of the big lake itself. 

 The bed of the lagoon is cleaned, the 

 outlet closed, and pure water pumped 

 until the reservoir is again bank full. 

 It is then left there, deserted by all its 

 fair weather devotees, to await the 

 coming of the power that shall lock it 

 tightly in a solid sheet of ice, which 

 later on is duly harvested. 



Returning to the wide veranda and 

 resuming our survey of the general 

 landscape, beyond the brook an un- 

 dulating sea of verdure leads the eye 

 away to where a hedgerow marks the 



[42] 



