Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-08

smooth, with the pebbles visible peneath
sometimes rushing dark and swift, cuuy'
ing and whitening past some rock, or UNI
derneath the hithcr or the 1aftneI paiik
The further up the brook, IN
wilder it grew. The opposite bank was
covered with pines and hemlock. ascend
ing high upwards. black and solemn.
the hther side :. frinsedN with alder
stream which, farther on, flowed through
The midst of a forest OF maple. beech and
other trees. ,,. .,u,o ,,,,s
y cn,Iseway, built long ago of logs. ~
drag lumber upon; 1t was now decayeu
AMI rotten a red decay, sometimes
sunkcn down in the midst. here ana mere
a knotty trunk stretching across, appir-
emily sound.
The aspect of the solitude ut noon was
peculiarly impressive. there being Il cloud
less sunshine, no wind, no rushing 81 the
forest leaves. ne waving or the boughs, no
noise bu the brawljng and babblinS OF
| The stream making It's way among the
stones and pouring in Il little cataract
around one side of the moidcrins dam
| Looking up the brook, there was Il long
lyista-now ripplcs, now smooth and
CLASSY spaces, now large rocks. almost
blocking up the channel; while the trees
stood upon either side. mostly straight,
hut here and there Il branch thrusting IT.
self out irregularly, and one tree pine
leaning over--not bending-but leaning al
angle nr @yer ahs iS IHush Of an
the trees, an old, dead. leafiess pine, ris-
ing white and lonely, though closely sur
rounded by others.
heritage extended close to the water; now
n small. sandy beach. The wall of rock
|. looking as if it had been hcwn. but
with irregular strokes of the work MAN.
doing his job by rough ana rOndtr0u5
strcnGth-new CHANGING to hew it away
smoothly and clcanly. now carelessly
smiling and making gaps. or piling on the
slabs of rock. SO as to leave vacant
spaces.
In the intersticcs grow brake and
broad -lcaved forest grass. Tho trees
that spring from the top of this way
have their roots pressing Close to the
they cling powerfully and grasp the
crig tightly with their knotted fingers.
The trees on both sides are so thick
that the sight and tn" thoughts arc al
stems. branches and clustering green
lcaves-a narrow STRIP OF bright blue sky
above. the sunshine falling lustrously
down and making the pathway of the
brook luminous below
Entering among the thicsets. ! find the
soil strewn with Old leaves of rrec' ding
seasons, through which may he seen Il
black or dark mold; the roots of trees
stretch frequently across the path; often
n mOSS-groWn brown log lies 2thWart, and
when you set your foot down it sinks into
the decaying substance-intc the heart OF
oak or pine. The leIfy boushs and twigs
of the lmderbrush enlacc themselves be-
fore you, so that you must stooD your
head to pass under or thrust yourself
through amain while they sweep against
your face and perhaps knock off your hat.
There are rocks messy and slippery:
sometimes you staggcr. with great
rlIStling of branches, against Il clunp of
bushes and into the midst of it. From
end to end of all the tangled shade goes Il
pathway scarcely worn. for the leaves are
not troddcn through, yet plain enough to
the eye. winding gently TO avoid tree
trunks and rocks and little hillocks. In
the more open ground. the aspect of II
tall fire blackened stump. standing alone,
high up on Il swell CT land. that rises
gradually from one side OF the brook like
| a monument.