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by the deposits of loam which storms washed down from the heights
above。 The pool might be some three acres in extent； its shape was
irregular； and the edges were scalloped like the hem of a dress； the
meadow might be an acre or two acres in extent。 The cliffs and the
water approached and receded from each other； here and there； there
was scarcely width enough for the cows to pass between them。
After a certain height the plant life ceased。 Aloft in air the granite
took upon itself the most fantastic shapes； and assumed those misty
tints that give to high mountains a dim resemblance to clouds in the
sky。 The bare； bleak cliffs； with the fearful rents in their sides；
pictures of wild and barren desolation； contrasted strongly with the
pretty view of the valley； and so strange were the shapes they
assumed； that one of the cliffs had been called 〃The Capuchin；〃
because it was so like a monk。 Sometimes these sharp…pointed peaks；
these mighty masses of rock； and airy caverns were lighted up one by
one； according to the direction of the sun or the caprices of the
atmosphere； they caught gleams of gold； dyed themselves in purple；
took a tint of glowing rose…color； or turned dull and gray。 Upon the
heights a drama of color was always to be seen； a play of ever…
shifting iridescent hues like those on a pigeon's breast。
Oftentimes at sunrise or at sunset a ray of bright sunlight would
penetrate between two sheer surfaces of lava； that might have been
split apart by a hatchet； to the very depths of that pleasant little
garden； where it would play in the waters of the pool； like a beam of
golden light which gleams through the chinks of a shutter into a room
in Spain； that has been carefully darkened for a siesta。 When the sun
rose above the old crater that some antediluvian revolution had filled
with water； its rocky sides took warmer tones； the extinct volcano
glowed again； and its sudden heat quickened the sprouting seeds and
vegetation； gave color to the flowers； and ripened the fruits of this
forgotten corner of the earth。
As Raphael reached it； he noticed several cows grazing in the pasture…
land； and when he had taken a few steps towards the water； he saw a
little house built of granite and roofed with shingle in the spot
where the meadowland was at its widest。 The roof of this little
cottage harmonized with everything about it； for it had long been
overgrown with ivy； moss； and flowers of no recent date。 A thin smoke；
that did not scare the birds away； went up from the dilapidated
chimney。 There was a great bench at the door between two huge honey…
suckle bushes； that were pink with blossom and full of scent。 The
walls could scarcely be seen for branches of vine and sprays of rose
and jessamine that interlaced and grew entirely as chance and their
own will bade them； for the inmates of the cottage seemed to pay no
attention to the growth which adorned their house； and to take no care
of it； leaving to it the fresh capricious charm of nature。
Some clothes spread out on the gooseberry bushes were drying in the
sun。 A cat was sitting on a machine for stripping hemp； beneath it lay
a newly scoured brass caldron； among a quantity of potato…parings。 On
the other side of the house Raphael saw a sort of barricade of dead
thorn…bushes； meant no doubt to keep the poultry from scratching up
the vegetables and pot…herbs。 It seemed like the end of the earth。 The
dwelling was like some bird's…nest ingeniously set in a cranny of the
rocks； a clever and at the same time a careless bit of workmanship。 A
simple and kindly nature lay round about it； its rusticity was
genuine； but there was a charm like that of poetry in it； for it grew
and throve at a thousand miles' distance from our elaborate and
conventional poetry。 It was like none of our conceptions； it was a
spontaneous growth； a masterpiece due to chance。
As Raphael reached the place； the sunlight fell across it from right
to left； bringing out all the colors of its plants and trees； the
yellowish or gray bases of the crags； the different shades of the
green leaves； the masses of flowers； pink； blue； or white； the
climbing plants with their bell…like blossoms； and the shot velvet of
the mosses； the purple…tinted blooms of the heather；everything was
either brought into relief or made fairer yet by the enchantment of
the light or by the contrasting shadows； and this was the case most of
all with the sheet of water； wherein the house； the trees； the granite
peaks； and the sky were all faithfully reflected。 Everything had a
radiance of its own in this delightful picture； from the sparkling
mica…stone to the bleached tuft of grass hidden away in the soft
shadows； the spotted cow with its glossy hide； the delicate water…
plants that hung down over the pool like fringes in a nook where blue
or emerald colored insects were buzzing about； the roots of trees like
a sand…besprinkled shock of hair above grotesque faces in the flinty
rock surface；all these things made a harmony for the eye。
The odor of the tepid water； the scent of the flowers； and the breath
of the caverns which filled the lonely place gave Raphael a sensation
that was almost enjoyment。 Silence reigned in majesty over these
woods； which possibly are unknown to the tax…collector； but the
barking of a couple of dogs broke the stillness all at once； the cows
turned their heads towards the entrance of the valley； showing their
moist noses to Raphael； stared stupidly at him； and then fell to
browsing again。 A goat and her kid； that seemed to hang on the side of
the crags in some magical fashion； capered and leapt to a slab of
granite near to Raphael； and stayed there a moment； as if to seek to
know who he was。 The yapping of the dogs brought out a plump child；
who stood agape； and next came a white…haired old man of middle
height。 Both of these two beings were in keeping with the
surroundings； the air； the flowers； and the dwelling。 Health appeared
to overflow in this fertile region； old age and childhood thrived
there。 There seemed to be； about all these types of existence； the
freedom and carelessness of the life of primitive times； a happiness
of use and wont that gave the lie to our philosophical platitudes； and
wrought a cure of all its swelling passions in the heart。
The old man belonged to the type of model dear to the masculine brush
of Schnetz。 The countless wrinkles upon his brown face looked as if
they would be hard to the touch； the straight nose； the prominent
cheek…bones； streaked with red veins like a vine…leaf in autumn； the
angular features； all were characteristics of strength； even where
strength existed no longer。 The hard hands； now that they toiled no
longer； had preserved their scanty white hair； his bearing was that of
an absolutely free man； it suggested the thought that； had he been an
Italian； he would have perhaps turned brigand； for the love of the
liberty so dear to him。 The child was a