ALONG A TROUT-STREAM 



an insensate assemblage of colors and perfumes, but a 

 mysterious Presence with which he communes in un- 

 utterable sympathies." 



So this angler looks, listens, and feels more and 

 more. 



Every water-curve is full of grace, fantasy, and ease 

 of motion, like a wind-swayed flag. And he studies 

 the currents, full of color, clearness, mantlings of shad- 

 ows, prismatic lights running over the white gravel of 

 the bed, or darting through the foam-fire. And at still 

 pauses is as much in the water as above it — ^boughs, 

 foliage, blue sky, drifting clouds, all softened and 

 etherealized by reflection. 



"Sweet views which in our world abcrue 



Can never well be seen. 

 Are imaged by the water's lave 



Of this fair forest green. 

 And all is interfused beneath 



With an Elysian glow ; 

 An atmosphere without a breath, — 



A softer day below." 



This eflfect is heightened by the music of the water- 

 flow. Old anglers have ears trained to nicest sense of 

 sound in the music of running water, and will know 

 the physical conditions, even when unseen, which 

 cause many of the notes of sound in a trout-brook. 



177 



