46 In Touch with Nature. 



so happened we rambled this far, and, resting, 

 voted time and place a full realization of a lazy- 

 man's outing. Let the field and forest behind us 

 entertain those who remained at home ; the river 

 alone concerns us. 



It is not a forced expression to say that the 

 wind plays with the water. How else adequately 

 describe the changeful surface? A mile away, 

 this is as a mirror breathed upon; while nearer, 

 the rippled flow is dark, a broken band of polished 

 purple steel, or glittering and bright, as shimmer- 

 ing silver. Nowhere is there fixity of light and 

 shade. Not an instant but there is a change of 

 place : the blue-black waters now here, now there ; 

 the rippled silver gone ere you can trace it. Let 

 the wind play what pranks it may, the ever-shift- 

 ing scene is not perplexing ; there is enough de- 

 liberation to give us chance to follow; and then 

 there is that delightful uncertainty which twits 

 us, and we fall to guessing what the next freak 

 will be. 



It is reasonable to ask if water-birds realize these 

 constant variations of light-effects upon the surface 

 of a broad stream. They are comparatively safe 



