168 FLORIDA DAYS.

canoe, -effaces herself as completely as though
she had a soul. He could tell her the secret
of a hopeless love without any fear that sh*
would intrude her own personality, and with the
same certainty of being understood that he ha4
when he whispers his sorrow to his dog, or
broods upon it half aloud by the side of a run*
ning stream; or, indeed, he could tell her anj
of those primal distresses or perplexities whic4
bring the soul whimpering to the heart of Nai
ture. And his canoe is forbearing as well a4
sympathetic. This leaning far over to look
down into the reflections is really carelessness
of the laws of her being; but she endures alt
such. slights nobly. No doubt she understands
the wonderful beauty of the picture in the
stream, as well as the man does.
 There are long banners of moss hanging from
the branches of the trees; and looking down
into the water, they seem to stir and wave with
the unseen ripple of the creek. Above, all is
perfectly still; the moss hangs like mist about
the cypresses. It is as though Night's cloak hadc
caught upon the bare, sharp twigs as she fled