46 RAMBLESOF 



No. II. 



ON the day following my first related excursion, 1 

 started early in the morning, and was rewarded by 

 one sight, which could not otherwise have been 

 obtained, well worth the sacrifice of an hour or two 

 of sleep. There may be persons who will smile 

 contemptuously at the idea of a man's being de- 

 lighted with such trifles; nevertheless, we are not 

 inclined to envy such as disesteem the pure gratifi- 

 cation afforded by these simple and easily accessible 

 pleasures. As I crossed an open lot on my way to 

 the lane, a succession of gossamer spider-webs, lightly 

 suspended from various weeds and small shrubs, at- 

 tracted my attention. The dew which had formed 

 during the night was condensed upon this delicate 

 lace, in globules of most resplendent brilliance, whose 

 clear lustre pleased while it dazzled the sight. In 

 comparison with the immaculate purity of these dew- 

 drops, which reflected and refracted the morning 

 light in beautiful rays, as the gossamer webs trembled 

 in the breeze, how poor would appear the most in- 

 valuable diamonds that were ever obtained from 

 Golconda or Brazil ! How rich would any monarch 

 be that could boast the possession of one such, as 

 here glittered in thousands on every herb and spray ! 

 They are exhaled in an hour or two, and lost; yet 

 they are almost daily offered to the delighted con- 



