344 THE BROOK. 



depends far more upon the impress than upon the 

 bullion. 



The human heart is as warm there, and the feelings 

 are as true, as where every sentence is " cut to model," 

 and every attitude ordered by the posture-master. The 

 evening walks of lovers are as enchanting there as 

 the evening medleys in the fashionable world: eyes 

 are as bright, when the star of eve or the moon of 

 night is their only rival, as when they have to contend 

 with the glitter of jewels, and the glare of angular 

 crystal and coloured glass. Neither is the music less 

 fascinating, or less in melody with all around, that it 

 comes without purchase from the feathered tribes, than 

 if it warbled in all the wild meanders of German har- 

 mony. All are well in their own places ; and the nuptial 

 songs of the birds are just as much in accordance with 

 the plans of those rustic youths and maidens, who have 

 chiefly to consider how they shall best construct their 

 nests and rear their broods, as the exhibitions of splen- 

 dour are to those of whom splendour is the idol and 

 the joy. 



There is something about a brook which leads one 

 more insensibly, but more irresistibly, to the con- 

 templation of rustic life, than any thing else in rustic 

 scenery. It is not germain to wildness and desolation, 

 and it is no kin to greatness. There is life and pro- 

 ductiveness about it ; but it is life which is simple and 

 unexpanded a shelter and repose from the sweep of 

 the elements and of time. Every thing in the place 

 itself, and in all the accompaniments of the place, pro- 

 claims that here is a fulness of life, and of life that 

 knows no enemy, unless when man steps in to play the 



