8 



can quietly absorb all that Dame Nature thus gener- 

 ously affords. T see the silvery sky-reflecting 

 stream winding its peaceful way through the rich 

 pasturage, under the rustic bridge, past the line of 

 undulating willows, that, moving with the faintest 

 breath of air, seem ever bending down to kiss its 

 ripples ; past the green banks and orchards, on 

 through clover patches, and secjge-lined promon- 

 tories, flashing like burnished metal at the rifts, 

 black as night in the pools, dappled and flecked by 

 the mirrored clouds, kissed into "cat's paws" by 

 the faint breeze ; on it goes until its farther course 

 is lost in the shadow of the olive-green woods that 

 tower in massive darkness against the soft amber- 

 colored clouds and pale blue sky. The watchful 

 kingfisher, perched on the other side of. the stream, 

 eyes me askance but has no great fear at my pres- 

 ence, the splash of a disturbed turtle or the heavier 

 fall of a diving frog calling for his more earnest 

 attention. Bass are leaping in every direction ; far 

 up on the hillside sounds the bell of a cow ; nearer 

 still calls "Bob White;" robins are piping; the 

 wrens are chirping; a hungry crow dismally cawks, 

 and all these sounds mingle with the music of 

 the millions of trilling nameless tiny insects con- 

 cealed in the deep grasses below me and in the flut- 

 tering leaves over-head. 



What greater pleasure can a busy man wish for 

 than to now and again " leave life and the world 

 behind" for a few hours and amid surroundings 

 like these smoke and chat with a congenial friend, 



