The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-08-11
Special Contributors.
IN THE MAINE WOODS.
III
BY ]. W. HANSON, d. d.

III.
The waters that originate in this re-
gion pursue widely different channels,
and undergo different experiences.
These lakes and streams, among which
wandered last week, flow toward all
the points of the compass at first, and
then find their way into the Kennebec,
most of them through its chief tributary,
the Dead River, and after journeying
through the best part of Maine, dlsem-
bogue into the sea. But right among
these lakes and streams, often only
separated by narrow ridge Of earth,
sometimes passing in opposite dlrec-
tions. other streams flow through devi-
GUS WAYS until they enter what l must
call the most picturesque group OF lakes
in America; the Rangely consisting OF
the Seven Ponds, Kennebago Lake, D
miles by /; the Cupsuptic, by 3; the
Oquossoc, by ); the MoOselucmagun-
tic, s by 2; the Molechunkamunk, by
.. the WeelokennebacOOk, 6 by /; the
Pond of the River, three miles square,
the Umbagog, s by l; and the Parma
chenee, 3 by l., and multitude OF
smaller sheets of water. These are the
sources Of the Androscoggin, which
runs through some of the most beauti-
full parts Of New Hampshire, and en-
tering Maine Joins the Kennebec at
Merrymeetng Bay, and thence the
yhFsed drops Of rain That away among
the mountains which divide our coun-
try from Canada were separated by the
sharp edge of stone, or a leaf, and
went their different ways are united,
and journey side by side together peace
fully to the great reservoir which all
reach at last. What type of human
lives that separate from "the same
mothers knee'' and know such differ
ent lots-what type of the final gath
ering OF all lives in the great ocean Of
eternity, when
1--WE like parted drops of rain,
Flowing till they meet and run,
All shall be absorbed again,
Melting flowing into one"
Last week | camped and rOamed and
angled and meditated in the dead
River country" This week, only sep
arated thence by range Of highlands,
in places only by few minutes walk,
1 am among the Rangely Lakes.
This was my vacation resort for many
years, begun when one would be weeks
without meeting another,-when one
must enter on foot, and convey his
blanket and supplies, and with his boat
and companion occupy the wilderness.
For many years my comrade was Rev.
Zenas Thompson, of blessed memory,
man whose soul was attuned to every
mood of nature; who knew the habits
and haunts of bird and fish and quad
ruped, who could make fly rod of
faultless beauty, and WELD it with equal
skill; who could tie fly to initiate ma
ture's haudwork, and cast it so as to
persuade the Wariest trout to "t8ke it
in out of the wet" who could manu-
facture rifle and shoot it with uneTr-
ing aim; who was Natty Bumpo's self
when welding the paddle, and who
was as genial and lovable at the camp
fire as he was observing and keen and
skillful in all the pursuits Of blood and
field, and able as a theolOgian and
preacher. Together we have tramped
all day, and day after day, through the
tangled labyrinth, padded all day, and
far into the night on the silent lake;
turned up our canoe for a roof in some
pouring shower, lay under our camp Of
bark or boughs, and gazed at cur huge
fire, before which hung the trout or
partridge, with a strip of pork ''frizZ-
ling to bsste the tOothsOme food; and
have heard the owl, the loon, and even
the catamount cry; have captured the
great trout only found here, one after
noon taking four genuine brook trout,
averaging six pounds eaCb;-Oh what
days and nights, and how delightful
their memory. How they prolonged
his years, and what a genial truly Telig-
ious spirit they impaired to him, so that
at our last expedition, though his years
were beyond the three score and ten,
he was youthful in all but body, and the
same charming companion he had al
ways been.
One of his mechanical tasks and pleas
ures was the manufacture of a ly-rOd
expressly for me. 1t is scarcely heavier
than a coach-whip, and would not tire
woman's hand. 1t has taken trout in