The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-08-23
THE Music OF THE WATERS.

And 50 all l had to do was to 20 into the
country and enjoy myself for six weeks
that IL what IL came to.
Why, II anyone had struck me with q
feather at the moment the doctor uttered
his verdict should certainly have been
knocked down; fortunately, no such afro
city was attempted, 80 maintained az
erect posture as my enfeebled health
would allow until the eminent licentiate
OF the College Of Physicians, whom was
consulting, begged me to resume nv seat.
You are utterly smoke-dried," he said.
London or tobaccog inquired.
Both," he answered. No phYsic
fresh air Is all you want-mountain air, If
possible; perfect rest and quiet; absremi.
Gus habits, early hours and no tobacco"
" But" feebly protested, II don't
care about the country; how am / to fill
up my time!
Nonsense; you know nothing of it,
from your own showing; and as to occu-
patton, anything will do, so that you keep
clear of your ledgers. Fish, sketch, idle,
read poetry and light novels; 60 and steep
yourself in grecnery, refresh your senses
with rural sights and sounds; 60 and look
ct trees and fields, listen to the birds and
the music of running waters; follow this
out, and you will be different man in six
weeks"
:" And them" blankly inquired.
"Thens o, then" he answered, " get
married and settle down."
1t certainly was fortunate I was not
standing up at that moment, for it would
not have needed q touch of the aforesaid
feather to have laid me low. As it was /
sank back in my chair aghast. "Get
marriedp' thought; / who was utterly
insensible to female attractions, and who
had been always taught to have an eye to
the main chance, and regard matrimony
as . clog, unless associated with great
heiress. get married OIL salary of a30C
ayear? Whewl
left Savile Row with scarce another
word, convinced that for real downright,
impractical men there were none to com.
pare with doctors.
Thus took the plunge, and within five
DAYS found myself at q snug little inn in
North Wales. hard by q celebrated spot
known as the "Devil's Bridge" a few
miles inland from Aberystwith.
] confess at once to having been little
astonished and pleased at the beauty of the
scenery. The unexpected novelty, felt
would keep me going for some time.
The change soon refreshed me. l was
astonisbed al feeling neither dull nor lone
ly-for the tourist season had hardly sci
in, and had tie little inn well-nigh to
myself. So wandered about and gazed
w0nderingly at all saw, especially at
the deep, craggy, wooded gorge or noun
Majesty's engineering skill was supposed
to have been displayed.
As stood looking down upon it from
the bridge near the inn, it certainly seemed
to me wondrously romantic spot. Steep
rOck-bOund banks, crowned with trees,
hemmed in the rushing, foaming river,
its channel becoming irregularly narrower
and more precipitous as it reached the head
of the valley in the depths of which it lay.
Here there was waterfall, as | then
thought, of stupendous magnitude, and
yet little higher up, q second still larger.
As made my way down to the river by a
well-worn path through wood, the sound
of the descending waters, as, waited on the
soft summer breeze, it rise and fell in
liquid cadence, fascinated me from the
very first. At distance it was but MUIR
muir; but as / drew nearer l seemed to
fancy that melodies innumerable were
growing out of it-wild, unequal melo-
dies, that touched chords in my nature of
the existence of which had hitherto been
ignorant. l had cared no more for music
than for any other of the refining, soften
ing influences of life, and now there
seemed to be awakening in me an entirely
pew man. did not know myself, and the
fascination led me on irTesistibly.
Now | would stop and tilt my head
from side to side. listening to the varie-
ueS or SOUND tnus gained. Then, after
advancing little to increase the strength
of tone, would retreat SO that the deli
cate decline of power should be made to
add another charm. In this fashion | lit
orally spent some hours before actually
reached the verge of the torrent, and ex-
perienced in its full force the tremendous
roar of the rushing waters. Why, here
was occupation for weeks, / thought, in
merely listening to these beautiful noises;
and had not the doctor told me that this
was one Of the ways in which should
employ myself? Had he not said: " Lis
ten to the music of running water ~
Well, l never expected to find holiday
diversion in such pursuit; but here it
was, and for whole fortnight gave N.Y.
self up to this delicious idleness. Then,
as If farther to develop the unsupported
music, poetry, or whatever you may
choose to call 1t, of my nature, found
among the few coffee-room books copy
OF SOuthey's poems. Instinctively Tread
again and again, How does the water
come down at Lodorel" took the vel
ur,e down TO the wood, to the waters
edge, to the very foot of my waterfall,
which seemed to me to be doing all that
the poet described as possible under the
circumstances.
The weather hitherto had been superb.
M do1rrn NOR H. =
rain.
The sunshine glinting through thetrces:
the pure sky above; the song Of the birds,
not yet all hushed, in the woods; the fresh
breezy odors-these all became such nov
elites and charms as I had never conceived
possible. But seated on my isolated rock,
It was still, after all, out of the Emusic Of
the waters" that / got my chief mental
enjoyment.
At last there was sudden change of
wind. Heavy clouds swept over the land
ecapc, burying in mist or occasional
showers all forms save those close at
hand.
- Regular Welsh weather, STRIP said
fresh -colored elderly gentlemanlike man
IN tourists suit, whom found the next
morning in the coffee-room. " NY party
will be house-bound for couple Of days
At least II know anything Of this coun-
~ shocking place for weather. Been
here long, sifr'
told him how long, and that / had not
had drop Of rain the whole time.
Disadvantage in that TO-" he went
o.; mountainous scenery wants mist
and rain TO drift round the peaks, I'll up
1he ourrcntB and bring out the waterfalls.
Yhfo one hare will pr4aent 4 Ana nfrht