MID-SUMMER ALONG THE OLD CANAL. 85 



and endurance have driven out these native plants 

 and in the end become the victor of them all. 



Much has been said and written about the beauty 

 of the cardinal flower but not too much, for among 

 all our wild plants which bloom from August to Oc- 

 tober it ranks without a peer for brilliancy of color 

 and gracefulness of form. And so, when amidst the 

 tall rank grasses near the margin of the pond I came 

 suddenly upon several of them, their bright red pen- 

 nons contrasted so vividly with the omnipresent yel- 

 low of the sneeze-weed and the marigold their purity 

 and beauty seemed so enhanced by their surroundings 

 that I could but fall upon my knees and do them rev- 

 erent homage. 



Reaching at last the old tow-path of the canal I 

 threw myself down in a shady bower and gave way to 

 revery. The time was when the tandem mules by 

 scores passed daily over the very spot where I now sat. 

 Then, busy commerce reigned supreme and man, bow- 

 ing to her imperious demands, carried by the produce 

 of the world. Woolens and silks, lumber- and iron, 

 coffee and teas, drugs and spices, indeed all the varied 

 articles needed by a young and growing common- 

 wealth, went up and down this artificial road of water. 



Now, how changed! Commerce no longer, but 

 nature reigns supreme. The tow-path is covered with 

 the saplings of eljn, ash, red-bud, and sycamore of 

 fifteen to twenty year's growth. Wild birds of many 

 species surrounded me on every side. From the top- 

 most twig of a stately elm a southern mocking-bird 

 sang for me a delightful medley of mimicry. It 

 seemed as though a dozen different birds joined in the 



