IN THE TEST. REFLECTION*. 143 



I may pass the remainder of my life near the banks 

 of some beautiful trout stream, tor 



I love each full, overflowing river, 

 Rolling on as if for ever ! 



Indeed, I am persuaded that there never was a 

 lover of nature who did not find peculiar enjoy- 

 ment, and his mind happy and tranquillized, when- 

 ever he walked along the banks of a clear and pic- 

 turesque river. He sees at every step something 

 to interest him. Dragon-flies flit about in every 

 direction, their wings glittering in the sun as they 

 settle on one of the numerous water-grasses, or on 

 the broad green leaf of a water-lily. Bees hum 

 their music as they seek for honey amongst the 

 bright flowers which adorn the meadows and the 

 banks of the river, while gaudy flies appear in the 

 full enjoyment of their renovated existence. To 

 these we may add the song of birds, the rising of 

 trout, the call of a moor-hen, and the distant cooing 

 of the ring-dove. Even the sudden splash of a 

 water-rat, when it is disturbed by having its haunt 

 approached, is not without its interest in such a 

 scene as this. The very air is perfumed, and its 

 softness reminds one of those pretty lines of Mr. 

 Coleridge's 



' the gentle south-west wind 



' O'er willowy meads and shadow'd waters creeping.' 



In describing our two days excursion to the 

 banks of the Test, I must not forget to mention 



