The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-10-03
Lake Canaan.
For the journal.

This beautiful and picturesque sheet Of
water lies quite near the village Of Cam
den, and there is nothing more delightful
than stroll to its shores. or a sail upon
its transparent surface. With lust air
enough to fan the tiny boat on its course, &,
| sit quietly in the stern and drink in all
the beauty and su@gestveness of the
scene. llemmed in on all sides, the lake
is rs lovely and secluded in It's surround
mGs rs an artist or poet might picture,
and at this hour, bushes daintily. while it
reflects the golden tinges OF the early
evening sky.
Softly The boat gliies over these dim
pling ripples, which kiss its graceful Prov
Yonder on projecting limb, q kingtishcr
soberIy watches for its supper, and chirp-
inc swallows skim swiftly over the water
lightly touching its surface at Intervals
and apparently enjoying their tlgng baths
Yondcr islana-how like a picture. wood
ed to its very verge sleeps upon the
bosom Of the lake rs quietly Us thouoA h.
its slnmbcrs had never .hnen wakened
since the days when the canoe of the red
man glanced into its shadows, anl when
the whlp-owil, as now, sang his plain
tive lay among its foliage.
The pinnacled mountain oi 'Megmti-
cook" seeming to pierce the clonds rises
maIestically to the right and forms a srik-
ing picture TO the scenery. Like the
heavy evening gun that booms from some
military keep blast from neighbor.
ING granite ledge, now echoes and re-
echoes, with duh hoarse and menacng
voice. creeping in at inlts, and around
headlandS, and bursting out again to
float over the water, and then die away
in the distant woods. The shadows be-
come gradually less and less distinct, the
stars come ont slowly, one by one, and
look 50 cold, bright and still, that you
gaze at them half in wonder, half in adj
miration. AS if it Were really fairy land
suddenly the island, so small and grace
ful, and thicllly wooded with tall pines
and nXnriant underground, becomes
covered as by a phoS; horescent cloud,
and those little ;erial torch bearers, the
iiretlies, shine forth in strong relief,
against the dark green background It
We're we'll worth many long mile Of
travel TO enjoy snch scene, and to rea-
ize its genial influence, physically AZ well
US mentally. No wonder the charming
little village of Camden is enlivcned dur
ing the bright summer days by pleasure
seekers from distant cities, who for months
have been seeing only each others faces,
and stone or brick walls from which to
dcduce their lessons of humanity and
Gods doings
True, they get sight Of trees now and
then, with their roots covered by brick
sidewalks, but one must away from the
ceaseless noise of city lite to enjoy even
in . small degree, the true teachings of
nature, and TO look upon her glorious
face unveiled and ushadowcd. There
is a lesson to the obscrvant eye, in every
waving blade of grass, exquisite poetry
in each tiny wild llower-and an Grafton
in every tree.
But leaving the soft quiet of lake Canaan
set in its frame of forest trees, and noun
tain fortress, we turn our faces reluctant
ly homeward, feeling the same refresh
ing influence OF natures glory, and ac-
knowledging in our inmost hearts the
"Great and good Giver Of all perfect
gifts" and who hath made our fair earth
so complete for our enjoyment.
ANNA AMEs.