Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-03-08

The SOURCE OF THE CoNNEcTIcUT.--Far
up among the hills of northern New Hamp
shire, almost on the very border of Quebec
province, is a small lake, which has an area
of scarcely moro than three acres. In ear
ly spring while as yet the snow lies along
its border, the woods resound with TIE
croa king of numerous frogs, which here,
undisturbed, end congenial habitat.
This little lake, in the cold dark forests,
source of the Connecticut river. Its outlet,
a mere rill, leaping over the rocks in beau
tful cascades, soon flows into Third lake.
This lake contains an area of about 24O
square acres, and is surrounded by lofty
hills, except on its southern border, where
the fluctuations are more gentle. The lake
has the form of trapezoid, and its outlet,
a stream ten feet wide, Is in the southeast
corner. From Third lake the Connecticut
flows four and half miles, when 1t receives
from the east a tributary nearly as large as
itself. One and a quarter miles farther
south it flows into Second lake. This lake
is also surrounded by high hills, but they
recede farther from its shores, while In the
distance they rise to mountain nights. 1t
is two and three -fourths miles in length,
and its greatest width is one and fourth
miles. Besides the Connecticut it receives
two tributaries from the northeast and one
from the northwest. 1t is one of the most
beautiful of our northern lakes. The grace
full contour of its shores, the symmetry of
its projecting points, the stately growth OF
the primeval forests, the carpet Of green
that is spread along its border, and extends
through the long vista of the woods, the re-
ceding hills and the distant mountains pre-
sent a combination Of the wild, the grand
and the beautiful, that is rarely seen. On
its border the moose and the deer feed al
most undisturbed, on its tributaries the
beaver builds its house, and the otter slides
into the clear and limpid streams, while its
shores are still the resort of the sable and
the mink. The outlet is on the west side,
near the southern border, and is about 40
feet wide. The descent, at first is gentle,
but the distant roar that greets the ear, in
dicates that rapids are near. So IL rushes
on over its rocky bed occasionally forming
deep eddies, only to become more rapid
still. For mile and a half from the lake
II forms a series of wild cascades which
continue for half mile, then after receiv-
ing two tributaries from the west, it flows
into First or Connecticut lake. Here we
find sheet of water irregular in outline,
extending about four miles east and west,
having an area of nearly three square
miles. On the southwest there are farms
and in places the grassy pastures reach tie
border of the lake, but for the most part II
is still surrounded by primeval forest
This lake is beautiful especially in autumn
On many of the neighboring hills there is
a growth of deciduous trees, particularly
the maple; when the frost comes and these
have put on their crown of beauty of Grim
son and scarlet, of yellow and gold, min
gled as they often ere with the dark foliag,
| of the spruce and fir, we have a scent
| which in brilliancy and beauty Is rarely, /
| ever, excelled. II often happens, while The
| forests have On their robe of beauty, tina
the higher points of the neighboring hill
| are of Immaculate whiteness from the fro
zen mist that clngs to every spray of tn,
thick evergreen foliage. At the outlet o
the lake, the river, which is here so fee
wide, forms precipit)us cascade, iallinI
81 feet in eight rods. 1t flows a little ives
of south for two miles when it receives
tributary Cedar stream from the east, thel
It flows little south Of west, until II reach
es the Vermont line. 1t receives three trib
utaries from the north. Perry stream
which rises near Third lake; Indial
l I'll. 4. IA