840 UPLAND AND MEADOW. 



winter, by spells ; but I never knew the like of this ; 

 never;" and he showed that he was sorely puzzled. 



This is the average weather-wisdom of my neighbors. 

 Their convenient memories make the rules hold good 

 in all cases, and contradictory facts are never recognized 

 at the time, and subsequently denied in toto. 



The broad quarter-mile of Poaetquissings, above the 

 flood-gates, was perhaps, to-day, the most charming spot 

 within easy walking distance. What the two earlier 

 frosts had failed to accomplish that of last night has 

 effected, and not a trace of lily leaves, pickerel-weed, 

 arum, or other aquatic growth mars the surface of the 

 water. Smooth as a mirror, it reflected, without a break, 

 every tree that overlooked the creek, now in the glory 

 of autumn coloring. Scarlet maples, yellow ashes, pur- 

 ple oaks, and varied birches were all faithfully por- 

 trayed. There was an unstained sky below as well as 

 above, and my boat seemingly floated in space. In per- 

 fect silence I drifted from shore to shore. It was pain- 

 fully still, as though Nature herself had died ; and then, 

 with a startling suddenness, trying even to old nerves, 

 a kingfisher darted, with a wild scream, into the water, 

 and shattered the mirror. But it was a welcome sound, 

 when the shock of its abruptness passed. A stately 

 heron, that had been dreaming in the drooping elms, 

 flew from its perch, and waded, knee-deep, along the 

 opposite shore. A startled pike leaped from the water ; 

 a muskrat swam with but the tip of his nose above the 

 surface, leaving an ever-widening wedge of silvery rip- 

 ples behind him. It was a strange transition from al> 



