Year: 1860

low mirror and bathe themselves. Sweetly
scented lime-trees are grouped together near
it, beneath the arching boughs OF which the
graceful fern and the blue eyed forget-me-
not flourish luxuriantly.


The banks of this crystal lake are fringed
with moss and tall Towering grasses; and
the woodland paths beyond, where the soil
is not SO moist, are carpeted in the early
spring with masses of the delicate blue hya.
cintb; aud no sooner has that faded than
the modest lily Of the valley arises, with her
perfumed bells, to scent the air in that Sc
questered spot.


Many wayfarer has paused in his jour.
Dey through the forest, to drink from the
limpid waters in that still retreat, and has
wondered at the variety Of foliage and bios.
som growing side by side in that place; and
has been puzzled to account for the appear.
aDce of some plants, which, according to
the botanists, had no business to be grow ing
wild in such a locality.


But there are records handed down from
tree to tree, and whispered from flower to
flower, of time when the now extensive
wood was private shrubbery,. planted with
taste and care, by wealthy land owner;
and the pool, which is now the favorite
haunt of the May fly, the dragon fly, and
their kindred, was once a fish. preserve
The ancient ferns, too, now rearing their
beauteous fronts as shelter for myriads of
the insect tribe, have faint recollection of
having been transplanted from distant re.
glon in their early youth; but they have
taken kindly to their present home, and are
too old now to care about making another
journey to the soil Of their ancestors, so thew
cling closer and closer to the rocks that
surround them, and spring up year after year
more vigorously than ever. And the forget.
me note, as the days 60 round, creep farther
and farther over the surface OF the pool,
laughing up in the sunlight with their bright
eyes, as though change and trial were un-
known to the flowers of earth.





1t is indeed very lovely spot, and the
sunbeams and the moonbeams lnger there
BY turns right willingly, piercing pIayfully
through the coy leaves, which try so val.
iantly to keep them out; but the zephyrs
come to the rescue; and to them the leaves
bow obediently at their Jig ghtest breath, and
make way for them. So the shining rays,
which are heavens messengers, follow
swiftly in the zephyr's path, and CLEAN and
simmer down into the very depths of the
pool itself.


Surely il peace be known upon earth, she
haunts that favored spot ! And there is no
lack of music either to enliven the Tranquil
ity. 1t is not dead calm which reisns
there; for the song Of the lark, the voice OF
the cuckoo, and the melody of the nightin-
gale, are all heard there in due season; and
day and night, in sunshine or in shade, there
is the never.ceasing music of rippling
stream, which has its source in the sparkling
pool, end goes babb ling on of the beauty OF
its home as it wanders far away over many
a mile, to mi1gle its waters with those of a
mighty river.


The little streamlet has no name, and il
not known in the great world; but it runs
it's daily course with gladness, and beautt
fies and benefits whatever comes in it's way.


Human eyes gaze but rarely upon the
beauty OF the scene have been attempting
to describe; but it is ever present to the an.
gels of God. And those whose mission il
is to bear earth's incense of praise to the
courts above, have also a tribute to collect
from the dwellers in this fair valley; fol-
surely Joy and gratitude are due for the cool
ing dews, the gentle showers and refreshing
breezes, not to mention the warm brigh
beams of sunshine which the flower buds
welcome SO gladly.


But have to tell Of time when sorrow
found its way to mar the harmony of tina
lovely scene. No human eye could have
detected the first symptom of evil. Out
wardly all was fair and beauteous; but "tht
trail of the serpent" had passed even there
and the guardian watcher knew 1t all tot
we'll when the breath of praise rose not st
freely as it was wont in the still hour O
eventide.


There was mist of discomfort hoverino
somewhere, which marred the fragrance o
that balmy hour ; and the flower spirit sigh
ed sadly as he fingered on his mission ant
waited for the hush Of night to investigate
it's cause.


AT Length the song Of the birds was stiled
There was no voice save that of the mur
murng brooklet. One by one the flower
cts closed their weary buds; the beautifu
forget-me.nots and the fragile veronict
dropped their heads beneath the clear cole
, moonbeams, and the lily nestled her tiny
u bells closer to the sheltering foliage arount
: her.


And then the solemn hush was broken By
, sigh Of discomfort, which arose on the
evening breeze, and was waited to the eal
OF the Aower.spirit. He heard an unthank
full murmuring, and he knew whence il
came, for he marked a solitary Forget-me
not and single spray Of Eily.bloom hold
ing themselves aloof from their kin, an,
eagerly listening to the night-wind's whis
pering and the babbling Of the tiny stream
! They were discontented flowers; they dit