MAKING THE HOME. 143 



grass-grown shore, is one of these little lakes we have been 

 talking about. It does not cover an acre of ground at its 

 largest, and in dry times it shrinks to a deep half-acre basin 

 in the center, whose sides are evidently perpendicular like 

 a well. It never contracts more than this, and is probably 

 fed by springs. 



The water is as clear as crystal, and in calm weather re- 

 flects the sun and clouds like a burnished mirror, while, in 

 windy times, it is wonderful to see how the miniature waves 

 rise up so as to thump and toss our little boat and curl 

 their white caps all around it. Our circular w^ater mirror 

 has a veritable frame of its own of green and gold, a clear, 

 unbroken circle, about six feet wide, of a curious aquatic 

 plant with small leaves floating on the surface of the water, 

 and bright yellow flowers rising above them, clearly de- 

 fining the edge of the well-like, permanent basin. 



''I would give five hundred dollars for a lakelet like that 

 on my place," exclaimed a less fortunate neighbor whose 

 water-mirrors will sometimes shrink away to nothing, leav- 

 ing a grass-grown hollow that cattle delight in. And this 

 wish is expressed, not on account of the beauty of that 

 little shining spot, but because of its permanency, and 

 hence its value to its owner, should he desire to water his 

 grove or truck gardens in a dry time by the aid of a wind- 

 mill, or use it for the supply of his house. In this connec- 

 tion, five hundred dollars is a low estimate of the value of 

 a permanent lakelet, large or small, near one's grove and 

 house. 



Few persons realize the vast utility and comfort of pos- 

 sessing a sure, never-failing water-supply, by means of a 

 windmill. A windmill, to the masses, is an ''unknown 

 quantity," a thing of complexity, of mystery, of heavy, 

 unprofitable expense. But we would urge an earnest con- 

 sideration of this subject upon our readers. 



