fight for his mistress, or hold a dignified peace when his enthusiastic praise gains the careless greeting, "The Connecticut? Oh yes, a pretty little stream;" or, as once met the writer's amazed ears, " But you know, the water is so muddy." It is idle to combat the opinions of the contentedly nearsighted and ignorant. He who knows his river-love at its gay beginning in the mountains; its soberer path among the fair lands of Massachusetts; its varied and nobler valley in its own