LUNCH BY THE BKOOKSIDE. 75 



But let us return to the little bridge. From 

 the northward comes the brook, winding here 

 and there through meadow and swamp, from its 

 source miles away among the hills and barrens. 

 For the most part of the distance it has loitered 

 through meadows, where it becomes deep and 

 smooth a beautiful mirror reflecting the upper 

 world in softened shades, where the sky is a ten- 

 derer blue, and shrubs and grass and trees are 

 therein pictured with a softening touch of beauty. 

 Hither come the herons to dress their plumes, 

 the swallows to run down their prey, and the 

 dragon-flies all day long court this " amorous 

 looking-glass " in many a wayward dash and turn. 



But I must not loiter also. Here, then, betwixt 

 the road and a pole dam, we will rest and re- 

 fresh ourselves with the water at our feet. There 

 are so many native inhabitants of this spot that 

 one will needs be blind not to heed them. With- 

 out stirring ten rods away one might find enough 

 of life to employ him for years in observing it 

 and writing down what he learned. At a vent- 

 ure, within a circle of ten rods in diameter grow 

 fifty different species of plants or vegetable life ; 

 of animal life, including birds and beasts and in- 

 sects of all kinds, there are still more. One may 

 sit on this tiny rustic bridge, and luxuriously hang 

 his legs over the end of it, till his feet almost 



