The Formation of Artificial Lakts. 75 



prietor would visit some lake celebrated fur its picturesque beauty, and 

 study well the producing causes of this effect, — wbicli are in part com- 

 prised of bights extending into the shore, suddenly alternated by miniature 

 peninsulas, from whose extreme points depend drooping trees laving 

 their bright foliage in the pellucid water ; and again recur steep banks 

 with rocky faces garnished with moss and other parasites fed by trickling 

 springs, and, from crevices which have appropriated a modicum of mother 

 earth, peep forth weeny shrubs reveling in modest attire, and apparently 

 in the happy consciousness of sole occupancy. Further on, a deeper 

 fissure, with its larger volume and several feet of tenacious mould, having 

 caught some winged germ of future tree-greatness, has with parental 

 care vitalized the embryo, and thus a tree — not perpendicular like a 

 French grenadier, but straggling sideways — a sort of loiterer, prepon- 

 -derating between the two opposing elements, sun and water. Under 

 such a tree we experience placid delight and tranfjuil happiness, unalloyed 

 by ba.ser thoughts of the price of pots and pearls, or fluctuations in stock, 

 ox decliue of one-eighth in cotton, as, safely moored in tiny skiff, we bait 

 the bearded hook with imitation fly, and then in breathless expectancy 

 await the approach of some voracious trout or pickerel, who, fancying 

 a delicious morsel .specially prepared for his epicurean taste, takes a side- 

 long glance, warily approaches as if fearful of .startling his prey, and then, 

 gathering up his sinews, makes a bold and desperate plunge. Fatal plunge, 

 indeed ; " the biter's bit I" and in death, like many mortals we wot of, 

 realizes the truth of the adage, '■ all's not gold that glitters." 



• The linny brood llicir wontrd haunts Ibrsaki'. 

 Float in the sun, and skim along the lake ; 

 With frequent leap they range the shallow streams ; 

 Their silver coats ix'flect the dazzling beams. 

 Now let the fisherman his toils prepare. 

 And arm himself with every watery snare ; 

 His hooks, his lines, peruse with careful eye. 

 Increase his tackle, and his rods re-tie. 

 Upon a rising border of the brook 

 He sits him down, and ties the treacherous liook : 

 Now expectation cheers his eager thought, 

 His bosom glows with treasures yet uneaught ; 

 Before his eyes a banquet seems to stand, 

 Where every guest applauds his skilful hand. 

 Far up the stream the twisted hair lie throws. 

 Which down the murmuring current gently flows ; 

 Wien if a chance, or hunger's powerful sway. , 



Directs the rovins trout this fatal wav. 



