, 1872-04-11
The Source of the Connecticut.

Aot9o'
The Source of the Connecticut.
Far up among the hills of northern
New Hampshire. almost on the very bor-
der of Quebec province, is small lake,
which has an area of scarcely more than
three acres. In early spring, while as
yet the snow lies along its border, the
woods resound with the croaking of nu-
msrous frogs, which here, undisturbed,
find congenial habitation. This little
lake, in the cold dark forests, two thou
sand five hundred feet above the level
of the sea, is the source of the Connect
icut river. Its outlet, a mere rill, leap
ing over the rocks in beautiful cascades,
soon flows into Third lake. This lake
contains an area of about two hundred
and forty square acres, and is surround
ed by lofty hills. except on its southern
border, where the undulations are more
gentle. The lake has the form of ira
pezoid, and its outlet, a stream ten feet
wide, is in the southeast corner. From
Third Lake the Connecticut flows four
and half miles, where it receives from
the east tributary nearly as large as it.
self. One and quarter miles south it
flows into Second lake. This lake is al
SO surrounded by high hills. but they
recede further from its shores, while in
the distance they rise to mountain
heights. It is two and three-fou tbs
miles in length, and its greatest width
is one and one-fourth mile. Besides the
Connecticut it receives two tributaries
from the northeast and one from the
northwest. It is one of the most beau
tiful of our northern lakes. The grace
full contour of its shores, the symetry of
its projecting points, the stately growth
of the primeval forets, the carpet Of
green that is spread along its border,
and extends through the long vista of
woods, the receding hills and the dis
tant mountains, present a combination
of the wild, the grand and the beautiful
that is rarely seen. On its border the
moose and the deer feed almost undis-
turbed; ON its tributaries the beaver
builds its house, and the otter slides in
to 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 forty feet wide. The descent
at first is gentle, but the distant roar
that greets the ear, indicates that rapids
are near. So it rushes on over its rocky
bed occasionally forming deep eddies,
only to become more rapid SPILL. For .
mile and half from the lake it forms a
series of wild cascades which continue
for half mile, then, after receiving two
tributaries from the west, it flows into
First or Connecticut lake. Here we find
q 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 pas
lures reach to the borders of the lake,
but for the most part it is still surround
ed by the 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 crowns of beau
ty, of crimson and scarlet, of yellow and
gold, mingled as they often are with the
dark foliage Of the spruce and fir, We
have scene which in brilliancy and
beauty is rarely. if ever, excelled. 1t
flows little west of South for two miles
when it receives a tributary, Cedar
stream, from the east, then it flows a
little south of west, until it reaches the
Vermont line. It receives three tribu-
taries from the north: Perry stream,
which rises near Third lake; Indian
stream, which rises ON the boundary q
little further north from the last, and
Halls stream, which is the boundary
between New Hampshire and Quebec
province.