XXIII 



THE MERRY-GO-ROUND 



"Are you going to take us all to ride on the 

 flying horses?" cried the Frivolous One as the 

 field class stepped from the car. Before us were 

 set all the distracting snares of the summer resort. 

 The odor of roasted peanuts mingled with that of 

 pop-corn, while a general air of zoological garden 

 pervaded everything. Beyond we could see the 

 lake and could almost believe we heard its soft 

 lapping against the posts of the pier, above the dis- 

 cordant din of the merry-go-round. 



"I'll show you a merry-go-round more suited 

 to a scientific mind," said the Professor, with a 

 twinkle in his eye. 



The boats were ready for us at a small wharf, 

 and we were soon judiciously assigned to our 

 places in them and ready to obey directions. 

 Dredging nets and bottles and pails were conven- 

 iently placed. This excursion up the "Lagoon" 

 had two objects. We were to get a general im- 

 pression of aquatic insects in their haunts, and to 

 collect specimens for our aquaria. Some of us 

 had never been to the Lagoon before and were 

 anxious to get the geography of the place. It is 

 really the lower portion of Fall Brook. Although 

 this stream is one of our swiftest ones, abounding 

 in waterfalls of surpassing beauty, it flows for a 



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