r? What
things connected with himself does the author
show to be in harmony with the scene? How does
he indicate the harmony in each of the
following: The motion of his canoe, the surface
of the water, his own activity, the force of
gravity, the character of the morning, and the
forest life? We should expect him to dip his
paddle very quietly, if he felt the calmness of
the morning, but to show that the "silence"
pervades all nature, the very drops of water
from the paddle blades seem to fall gently, in
sympathy with the spirit of silence reigning
all around. What are the "river reaches"? The
reach is the stretch of the river between two
bends. How are they "borne in a mirror"? The
high cliff-like banks are mirrored in the
surface of the water. Explain the colour
"purple gray". It is the colour of the image of
the banks in the water. What is meant by "sheer
away"? It means that the "river reaches" curve
away like a winding road. Try to see the
picture of the winding river, apparently
growing smaller as it passes curve after curve.
As it seems to recede into the distance, the
surface of the river forms a "misty line of
light", just before it melts into the shadows
of the forest. Where do the forest and the
stream seem to meet? What does the word
"plight" suggest about their meeting? What
suggests a meeting-place out of sight? Why is
the meeting represented as taking place in the
shadow? Now what is described in the second
stanza?

"As a cloud", "like a dream". Do these make the
meaning clearer? Explain. Are these comparisons
apt? Show the fitness of "silvery", "crystal
deep", "asleep".

Stanza III

As the author goes farther and farther down the
stream, the river runs more slowly. How is this
shown? What shows that the little creek runs
very slowly into the river? How does the author
say the creek is winding? Why would not the
same word "curling" do to show that the river
was winding through the gorge? What are we told
about the mouth of the creek? See those sunken
wrecks down in the water. What are they like?
What shows you that they a