AMONG TUB DRAGONFLIES. 
21 
ter often bearing the twining Dodder, which, trusting to 
its chosen support, has severed all connection with its 
mother, the earth. Some have harshly termed the Dodder 
a parasite, but they may be wrong. Certainly the Joe-pye 
that supports the clinging vine stands as stoutly and makes 
as brave a show as his fellow that stands alone. Perhaps, 
in some mysterious way, the twining, clinging Dodder is a 
help. Who knows ? 
In' August the Cardinal-flowers fill in a border of color 
on either bank, and later the trees in the valley show the 
change of hue which spreads slowly on either hand until 
the hillsides are resplendent in crimson and gold. Then, 
as winter approaches, kindly Nature covers the stream 
with a sheet of ice, to which she later adds a thick blanket 
of snow. ‘ The brook murmurs a little, like a child when 
sent to rest, but bides its time till the return of spring, 
when it throws off its covering, and the willow catkins 
wave their greeting, while the ceaseless round of the year 
rolls on and the pageant of the summer begins again. 
There is one scene in the miracle-play presented here 
which might be entitled, “Mayflies, Dragonflies and 
Birds ; or the Survival of the Fittest.” A year is required 
for the preparation, and although the performance may be 
postponed on account of the weather, this scene is never 
cut for lack of an audience. Indeed, the smaller the house 
the better the play is apt to be. This year, on June 3, a 
visit was made to the pines on the bluff to learn what 
might be going forward, and many glimpses were caught 
of what could literally be styled an undress rehearsal. 
The Mayflies and Dragonflies, which had lived their year 
out in the nymph state in the broad, still pools at the foot 
of the rapids, were coming forth as if moved by a common 
impulse. 
The Dragonfly nymphs, when their time comes, crawl 
out of the water, cling to some rush or twig and wait until 
the hard covering of their bodies dries and cracks open 
