14i NATIVE BROOKS. 



this pond and a little lame boy with crutches and a board for sup- 

 port, used to enjoy himself as much as his companions. 



A number of skirmishes occured along Richmond brook in the 

 years of the Revolution, particularly on the day of the fight at St. 

 Andrew's Church. But it is more pleasing to think of it in the times 

 of peace, and see the water snakes glide in so smoothly, the turtles 

 scuttle with much haste and the wayward frogs jump recklessly off 

 the bank, frightening the black-nosed dace below. 



When these little fish are disturbed they sometimes scatter in all 

 directions, coming together shortly if they imagine the danger is 

 past. At other times they will sink to the deepest point and remain 

 on the sand or pebbles, not moving a fin, and as their backs are 

 sand colored they are not easily seen from above. Occasionally 

 Avhen there is nothing to fear one will be seen lying motionless for a 

 long time between two pebbles, and thus can they rest and sleep 

 when they desire. 



There are numbers of plane-wood trees on the banks of this stream 

 and a profusion of wild flowers and a patch of periwinkle on the 

 steep hill side to the West. A wooded slope, with a brook nearby 

 always proves attractive to the birds, and this one is a great favorite 

 with them. Cat-birds congregate about the smilax patches and 

 sing their varied songs, which are always worth listening to, but 

 it is in May, just before nest building commences, when the males 

 talk to their drab colored mates in coaxing, faint undertones, that 

 they are most interesting. Those who have not listened to this 

 bright eyed bird at such a time, only know a small portion of his 

 vocabulary. 



There has been much discussion of late as to the real source of 

 the Mississippi, and it would turn an explorer's hair gray to discover 

 just where Old Place brook rises, to decide to the world's satisfac- 

 tion from under which particular skunk cabbage leaf causes the first 

 little rill. The marsh-marigolds that grow so plentifully nearby do 

 not know where it rises and the snails that float on their backs, witli 

 their broad fleshy foot turned up to the sun, do not care. They 

 start from some water parsnip stem or dead twig, on their journey, 

 but all trials to place them gently in the water with the hand and 

 have them float away, result in failures, for the} - also can apjDreciate 

 the appearance of danger. 



