ALONG A TROUT-STREAM 



Up the stream is a broad shallow where the brook 

 flows over partly submerged rocks, spread evenly, with 

 a slumberous sound, like a steady wind moving through 

 thick woods. Falling over the even edge of a wide 

 dam the water has much the same sound. Unob- 

 structed on inclines, rapidly flowing water in small 

 volume has the inimitable purl, so exquisite that even 

 in music the sweetest sounds are called liquid, like a 

 tinkling rill. And the notes that blend from different 

 water-tones are always in concord, never in dissonance. 

 Flowing under many conditions, meeting multiform 

 obstacles over even a single rod of its course, these 

 notes combine and make a certain " tone " or pitch of 

 musical sound. Put a log across the brook, choke it 

 with rocks, or remove those already there, and all the 

 minor sounds are changed — also the general tone and 

 pitch of the water-music. Or the stream will part with 

 some portion of its water volume, which will run into 

 still nooks and limpidly go to sleep. 



Thus the tone, volume, and blended orchestral ef- 

 fects of the water along a rushing trout-stream are 

 endless in variety and beauty — but all perfect. And 

 the feeling of the hearing, sensitive student will be 

 played upon until some echo of that music will be 

 roused in his own spirit as he studies it all in its light 

 and gloom, sunshine and shadow, storm and peace. 

 So in all ages the best poets have studied and sung of the 

 sound of flowing water, and have peopled their musical 

 brooks with singing nymphs and wraiths of water-sprites. 

 179 



