Under the trees . like the riverAlphaeus, unseen and unheard beneath theearth? The spring is mute when thesequestions rise to lips which it is alwaysready to moisten from its cool depths. Itis enough that in this quiet place the bountyof Nature never ceases to overflow, and thathere she holds out the cup of refreshmentwith royal indifference to gratitude orneglect. Here she ministers to every comeras if her whole life were a service. Oneforgets that behind this cup of cold water,held out to the humblest, there sweepsublime powers, and that the same handwhich serves him here moves in theircours
Under the trees . like the riverAlphaeus, unseen and unheard beneath theearth? The spring is mute when thesequestions rise to lips which it is alwaysready to moisten from its cool depths. Itis enough that in this quiet place the bountyof Nature never ceases to overflow, and thathere she holds out the cup of refreshmentwith royal indifference to gratitude orneglect. Here she ministers to every comeras if her whole life were a service. Oneforgets that behind this cup of cold water,held out to the humblest, there sweepsublime powers, and that the same handwhich serves him here moves in theircourses the planets, whose faint reflectionsshine in this silent pool by night. Springs have been natural centres of lifefrom the earliest times. Deep in the soli-tude of forests, or fringed with foliage inthe heart of deserts, they have alike servedthe needs and appealed to the sentiment ofmen. Around the wells cluster the mostvenerable associations of the ancient patri-archal families; the beautiful pastoral life112. y ) f
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectnatural, bookyear1902
