136 THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
ing completeness of organization until the eyes 
were fascinated with marvellous forms of beauty. 
Conceive all these strangely-formed and bril¬ 
liantly-adorned creatures in full activity, wheels 
revolving, with the flash of crystal, gold, pur¬ 
ple, emerald, and azure, as they keep up the 
mazy dance of exuberant life, and it will be 
understood that no powers of description can 
do justice to the marvellous picture. But the 
eye that has ever looked upon it will never for¬ 
get the vivid impression. The beholder will be 
impelled to say of the bright vision that 
‘A thing of beauty is a joy for ever.’ 
“ But we must now take our last lingering 
gaze at the youth-repelling pond. As the glance 
passes over its surface and dwells upon the dis¬ 
torted landscape, there is little or no change in 
its natural gloomy surroundings. The waters 
are as stagnant as ever, the bog as widespread 
and dank, and the rank growth of vegetation as 
tangled and decaying, as in years bygone. The 
hooting of the owls at night as discordantly 
mingles with the croak of flocks of wild geese 
and the piping of cranes, making the air clash 
with ear-piercing sounds. The batrachian cho- 
