In one spot the gush of the water violently agitated the sand , but without obscuring the fountain or breaking the glassiness of its surface . It appeared as if some living creature were about to emerge -- the naiad of the spring , perhaps , in the shape of a beautiful young woman with a gown of filmy water-moss , a belt of rainbow-drops and a cold , pure , passionless countenance . How would the beholder shiver , pleasantly yet fearfully , to see her sitting on one of the stones , paddling her white feet in the ripples and throwing up water to sparkle in the sun ! Wherever she laid her hands on grass and flowers , they would immediately be moist , as with morning dew . Then would she set about her labors , like a careful housewife , to clear the fountain of withered leaves , and bits of slimy wood , and old acorns from the oaks above , and grains of corn left by cattle in drinking , till the bright sand in the bright water were like a treasury of diamonds . But , should the intruder approach too near , he would find only the drops of a summer shower glistening about the spot where he had seen her . Reclining on the border of grass where the dewy goddess should have been , I bent forward , and a pair of eyes met mine within the watery mirror . They were the reflection of my own . I looked again , and , lo ! another face , deeper in the fountain than my own image , more distinct in all the features , yet faint as thought . The vision had the aspect of a fair young girl with locks of paly gold . A mirthful expression laughed in the eyes and dimpled over the whole shadowy countenance , till it seemed just what a fountain would be if , while dancing merrily into the sunshine , it should assume the shape of woman . Through the dim rosiness of the cheeks I could see the brown leaves , the slimy twigs , the acorns and the sparkling sand . The solitary sunbeam was diffused among the golden hair , which melted into its faint brightness and became a glory round that head so beautiful . My description can give no idea how suddenly the fountain was thus tenanted and how soon it was left desolate . I breathed , and there was the face ; I held my breath , and it was gone . Had it passed away or faded into nothing ? I doubted whether it had ever been . My sweet readers , what a dreamy and delicious hour did I spend where that vision found and left me ! For a long time I sat perfectly still , waiting till it should reappear , and fearful that the slightest motion , or even the flutter of my breath , might frighten it away .
Thus have I often started XXXXX a pleasant dream , and then kept quiet in hopes to wile it back .
For In Through about from like on than within without