, 1860-01-06
The Man in the Reservoir.

-N@eAee - SAAC 6A91OIVOVs
You may see some Of the best society in New
lork on the top Of the Distributing Reservoir,
any Oh tnese fine October mornings. There were
senatorial-loOking mothers with young Children.
pacing the parapet, as we basked there the other
Gay IN the sunshine, now watching the pickerel
tnat glide along the lucid edges of the black pool
within, and now looking off upon the scene Of rich
and wondrous variety that spreads along the two
rivers on either side.
They may talk Of Alpheus and Arethusa. j"
murmured an idling sophomore, who had found
his way tlither during recitation hours, "but the
Croton, IN passing over an arm Of the sea Al
Spuyten-Duyvil, and bursting to sight again In
this truneated pyramid, beats Il all hollow. By
Ieorge, too, the bay yOnder looks as blue as ever
the Hgean Sea to ByrOn's eye, gazing from the
Acropolis! But the painted foliage on those
erags!-the Greeks must have dreamed Of such
vegetable phenomenon in the midst Of their
grayish olive groves, or they never would have
supplied the want Of it in their landscape by eln
6roldering their marble temples with gay colors.
Did you see that pike break, sire"
I" did not"
"Zounds his silver I'm flashed upon the black
AcherOn, like q restless soul that hoped yet 70
mount from the pool"
"The place seems suggestive Of ancies to you," {"
we observed in reply to the rattlepate.
ut is indeed, for have done up good deal
Of ofanxions thinking within circle Of u Few yards
where that fsh broke just now"
A singular place for meditation--the middle
Of the reservoir"
"YOu look incredulOus sir, but it's fact A
fellow can never tell until he is tried in what Sit
uation his most earnest meditations may be con.
cent ated am boring you, thought"
- k0f at all RnN 4. A.
spot wish you could tell me why that ladder
leading down to the water is lashed against the
stone-work in yonder cornerl"
That ladder" said the young man, brighten
ing at the question, "why the position, perhaps
the very existence Of that ladder, resulted from
my medItations in the reservoir at which you
smiled just now. Shall tell you about theml 2"
"Pray do"
swell, you have seen the notice forbidding
any one to fish in the reservoir. Now when l
read that warning, the spirit Of the thing struck
INC at once, as inierring nothing more than one
should not sully the temperance potations Of our
citizens by stepping bait in it, Of any kind; but
you probably know the common way Of taking
pike with slip-noose of delicate wire was do.
teTmIned to have touch at the fellows with this
kind Of tackle.
chose moonlight night; and On hour before
the editee was closed to visitors, secreted myself
within tho wall, determined to pass the night on
the top. All went as could wish il The night
proved cloudy, but Il was only variable drilt Of
broken clouds which Obseurcd the noon had
walking cane-rod with me which would reach to
the margin Of the water, and several feet beyond
u necessary. Tothis was attached the wire, about
fifteen inches in length.
prOwled along the parapet for considerable
time, but not single fish could see. The clouds
Sl.uS ela n'cAenng ignt ana shade' mat wholly
I1ne1 my soeaay gaze. ! was convinced that
slOuIu tney come up thicker my whole nights
Auvensure aavu would oe thrown away :.
MW snoulu not descend the sloping wall
anu gee nearer on leVei with tne nsh, lcr thus
slOng ss, een noPe % see oneI Inc question had
,hAruly snapeo i.seli IN my mind before had one
'eg over tne IAlhng. -,
you look arounc you VIII see now that there
are some nalt dozen weeds growing here and there,
anla the nssures q the solid masonry. In one
o. Tue assures whence these spring, planted
loo., ana began my descent The reservoir
was iulier tnan it . now, and lew strides would
nave carried me . the margin Of the water.
noiulng on tne cieit ABOVE, ielt round with one
iOGt lot place 70 plant u below me.
In mat moment tne nap OF pound pike made
me iook ROUND, and the roots OF the weed upon
Whicn partially depended, gave way as was In
tne act o. turning Slr, ones senses are sharp
eneo N deadly peril as I've now, distinctly
neaIu sne oellS y 1Inlty cnmng mlcngnt aS
rose % tne surface the next instant immersed In
US tne stone cau,dron where ! must swim Tor my
me- heaven only could tel how long.
lam caPnsl SWIMMER, ana tnls naturally gave
me t oegree o. sei.-possesslon. Falnng as nad-
!. u Sourse mao pl.cnea out some distance rom
.ne sIOP,ng pITapeI A lew Strokes brought me
70 tne eoge. Lrsaliy was not yet certain ou. mat
Sa Sou,H Vs.IsI " sne lcs q tne wal ywneIe
Lnopeu u'1t Soulu. leI. Sertaln ~ ieast tnere
was some sPSt M1eIc mignt get nola win my
uAnas! e'en uu no. u'umately ascend II
N 'Ieu r ele neaies. sPo% jne lncllnAton o. toe
Neu was 80 NeTucal uiat u ulu not even resi- me