inutes a stalwart arm could drain the one and double the other.
Indeed, the existence of these two rivers seems to be a question of
balance and coincidence and hairbreadth escapes. Our driver pointed
out to us a tree whose root divides their currents. We pause but a
moment on the crazy little bridge, and then climb along to the foot of
the "Silver Cascade," farther and higher still, till we call see the
little brook murmuring on its mountain way in the cliff above, and look
over against it, and down upon it, as it streams through the rock,
leaps adown the height, widening and thinning, spreading out over the
face of the declivity, transmuting it into crystal, and veiling it with
foam, leaping over in a hundred little arcs, lightly bounding to its
basin below, then sweeping finely around the base of the projecting
rock, and going on its way singing song of triumph and content. A
gentle and beautiful Undine, the worshipping boughs bend to receive its
benediction. Venturesome mosses make perpetual little incursions into
its lapping tide, and divert numberless little streams to trickle
around their darkness, and leap up again in silver jets, clapping their
hands for joy.

"Now thanks to Heaven that of its grace
Hath led me to this lonely place;
Joy have I had, and going hence
I bear away my recompense."

All good and holy thoughts come to these solitudes. Here selfishness
dies away, and purity and magnanimity expand, the essence and germ of
life. Sitting here in these cool recesses, screened from the sun,
moist and musical with the waters, crusts of worldliness and vanity
cleave off from the soul. The din dies away, and, with ears attuned to
the harmonies of nature, we are soothed to summer quiet. The passion
and truth of life flame up into serene but steadfast glow. Every
attainment becomes possible. Inflated ambitions shrivel, and we reach
after the Infinite. Weak desire is welded into noble purpose.
Patience teaches her perfect work, and vindicates her divinity. The
unchangeable rocks that face the unstable waters typify to us our
struggle and our victory. Day by day the conflict goes on. Day by day
the fixed battlements recede and decay before their volatile opponent.
Imperceptibly weakness becomes strength, and persistence channels its
way. God's work is accomplished slowly, but it is accomplished. Time
is not to Him who commands eternity; and man, earth-born, earth-bound,
is bosomed in et