56 SUMMER IN A^ BOG. 



planting; that it has been tried, but no one ever 

 succeeded in making it grow. It is said to be 

 the one plant which has refused to become a 

 resident of Europe. Tell the men who work in 

 the ponds not to throw it away when they have 

 to dig it up, but to replant it ; it is such a pre- 

 cious and beautiful flower, and you will be so 

 glad to have it here at the Hatchery." 



"Yes," said Charlie, "I '11 tell 'em." 

 ********** 



What a way time has of slapping by ! It was 

 four or five years more before I visited the 

 Hatchery again. We were down at the ponds 

 and I had been explaining to my companion 

 how the young are reared in the different divi- 

 sions of the numerous ponds and, when old 

 enough, shipped to different parts of the State 

 to be placed in bodies of water as desired. 

 Presently a workman took out a shovelful of 

 the ill-smelling, slimy, green water weed, which 

 is so troublesome in quiet waters, for my in- 

 spection, when I became aware of a big boy 

 walking in our company and, by his side, a very 

 contented goose. 



He volunteered to get me a better specimen 

 of the water-weed. He told us about his goose, 

 which had come to meet him the moment school 

 was out and he at home. It was a wild goose 

 which had been captured on the pond a few 



