Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-12-20
THE MUSIC OF THE WATERS.
4 Holiday Diversion, and What Became
of il.
London Society.

And 50 all had to do was to 80 into
The country and enjoy myself for six
weeks-that is what 1t came to.
Why, if any one had struck me with
feather mt the moment the doctor ut
tered his verdict should certainly have
been knocked down: fortunately no
sucn atrocity was attempted, so | main
tanned as erect q posture rs my en-
feebled health would allow until the
eminent licentiate Of the college OF
physicians, whom | was consulting,
begged me to resume my seat.
You are utterly smoke-dried," he
said.
London or tobacco?' | inquired.
Both" he answered. mo physic;
fresh air is what you want-mountain
air. if perfect rest and quiet;
abstemious habits, early hours and no
tobacco"
But" | feebly protested, Il don't
care about the country; how am i to
fill up my time p
Nonsense; you know nothing about
it. from your own showing; and as to
occupation, anything will do 50 that
you keep clear of your ledgers. Fish,
sketch, idle. read poetry, light novels;
90 and steep yourself i'll greenery, re-
fresh your senses with rural sights and
sounds; go look ut trees and fields,
listen to the birds and music of running
waters; follow this out and you will be
different man in six weeks"
"And then?" | blanklv inquired.
"Then? o. then, he answered, get
married and settle down"
1t certainly was fortunate | was not
standing up at that moment, for II
would not have needed touch Of the
aforesaid feather to have laid me low.
As it was | sank back in my chair
aghast. Get married." | thought; |
who was utterly insensible TO female
attractions, and who had always been
taught to have an eye to the main
chance and regard matrim ony as dog,
unless associated with great heiresses.
get married on Il salary of E300a year.
Whewl
left Saville row with scarce another
word, convinced that for real, down
right ,inlpraotcable men that were none
to be compared to doctors.
Thus took the plunge, and within
five days found myself IN y snug little
inn III North Wales, hard by u celebrated
spot known as the Devils Bridge" q
few miles from AberystWith.
| confess ut once to having been Y
little nstonished and pleased at the
beauty of the scenery. The unexpected
novelty, felt, would keep me gong for
some time.
The change soon refreshed me. | was
astonished at feeling neither dull nor
lonely.--for the tourist season had hardly
set III, and ! had the little inn we'll nigh
to myself. So | wandered about, and
gazed wonderingly on all ! saw, espe-
cially al the deep, craggy wooden gorge
or mountain river bed, across which his
Satanic Majesty's engineering skill was
supposed to have been displayed.
AS stood looking down it from the
bridge near the inn, it certainly seemed
to me II wonderously romantic spot.
Steen, rock bound banks, crowded with
trees, hemm ed in the rushing, foaming
river, its channel becoming irregularly
narrower and more preclpitous as it
reached the head Of the valley in the
depths Of which it lay. Here there was
waterfall, rs | then thought, of stu
pendous magnitude, aud yet little
higher up a second still larger. AS !
made my way down to the river by Il
well-Worn path through wood, the
sound of the descending waters, rs
waited on the soft summer breeze
rose and fell III liquid cadence, fasci-
mated me from the very first, AT Il dis
lance it was but Il murmur; but as |
drew nearer seemed to fancy that mel
Odles innumerable were growing out Of
it--wild. unequal melodies, that touched
chords III my nature OF the existence OF
which | had hitherto been ignorant. |
cared no more for music than for any
other Of the softening, refining intiu-
enees of lite, and now there seemed to
man. | did not know myself, and the
fascination led me on irresistibly.
Now | would stop and tilt my head
from side to side, listening to the varie-
ties of sound thus gained. Then,
after advancing little to increase the
strength d tone, | would retreat so that
the delicate decline Of power should be
made TO add another charm. In this
fashion | literally spent some hours be-
fore actually reached the verge Of the
torrent and experienced in its full force
the tremendous roar Of the rushing
waters. Why, here was occupation for
weeks, thought, ii merely listening 70
these beautiful noises; and had not the
doctor told me that this was one Of the
ways in which | should enjoy myself?
Had lie not said: Listen 10 the music
of running waters" We'll, never ex-
peeted to find holiday diversion in
such pursuit; but here it was, and for
d whole fortnight | gave myself III To-
TINS delicious idleness. Then, as II
further To develop the unsupported mu-
sle, poetry, or whatever YOU may choose
W cal i, Of my nature, found among
the few coiee.room books copy of
ooutney's poems. Insunctively | read
again and again: How does the water
come down Il Lodore q ! took the