JULY DAYS 



lings, and on the ripples of their wake 

 the anchored argosies of the water lilies 

 toss and cast adrift their cargoes of per- 

 fume. Above them the green heron 

 perches on an overhanging branch, un- 

 couth but alert, whether sentinel or 

 scout, flapping his awkward way along 

 the ambient bends and reaches. With 

 slow wing-beats he signals the coming 

 of some more lazily moving boat, that 

 drifts at the languid will of the current 

 or indolent pull of oars that grate on 

 the golden-meshed sand and pebbles. 



Lazily, unexpectantly, the angler casts 

 his line, to be only a convenient perch 

 for the dragonflies ; for the fish, save 

 the affrighted minnows and the hungry 

 pickerel, are as lazy as he. To-day he 

 may enjoy to the full the contemplative 

 man's recreation, nor have his contem- 

 plations disturbed by any finny folk of 

 the under-water world, while dreamily he 

 floats in sunshine and dappled shadow, 

 so at one with the placid waters and 

 quiet shores that wood duck, sandpiper, 

 and heron scarcely note his unobtrusive 

 presence. 



No such easy and meditative pastime 

 93 



