I02 BY THE SEA. 



presents to the observer phenomena no less won- 

 derful and entertaining. 



To Norwood's bluffs, or the long stretch of 

 sandy beach, I go to study the wonders of the 

 shore in detail, and to obtain a nearer view of 

 the ocean's wrinkled face. It has character — its 

 face is sterner and more imposing and expres- 

 sive than the face of an inland sea. Its voice is 

 "The eternal bass in nature's anthem," and its 

 breath has a healthful savoriness, a briny flavor, 

 as refreshing to the scent as the perfume of flow- 

 ers is to the homeward-bound sea voyager. 



The winds play with it till it becomes impatient 

 and beats itself against the rocks. Its plastic lips 

 are wrought into a thousand gnarls and convolu- 

 tions, as they curl through the fissures and cav- 

 erns, while its foamy tongues, licking the stony 

 bluffs as they recede, leave behind them many 

 pretty cascades that flow gently down the slopes, 

 till the waters mingle again with the incoming 

 waves. 



As there are lulls in the wind on a breezy day, 

 so at intervals, as if exhausted with its fury, the 

 sea by the shore becomes suddenly almost calm. 

 Only gurgling, purling sounds are heard for a 

 minute or two, as the wavelets lap the edges 

 of the rocks. But it is gathering strength for 

 another onslaught. Far out, the seas are running 

 high again. A long procession of them swell up 



