"False world, thou ly'st; thou canst not lend
The least delight;
Thy favors cannot gain a friend,
They are so slight." FRANCIS QUARLES.
The traveller on the Mississippi observes with interest the innumerable
islands which dot the river, and relieve the monotony of the scenery.
These islands are, for the most part, covered with a luxurious growth of
cotton-wood trees. They have generally been formed by what are
technically called cut-offs, or new channels, from the main land. The
mighty torrent, scorning its own well-beaten track, ploughs a way
through the country, and returns to its channel miles below, opening at
once a new path for the voyager upon its tide. The portion of land thus
separated from the main shore is often subdivided by the action of the
waters into several smaller islands. These islets are, however, oftener
seen in isolated positions, varying in area from a few square rods to
several acres. A remarkable feature of these islands is their
_locomotive_ powers,--for, strange as it may seem, they annually take a
step down stream! Observation has shown a change of position almost
incredible.
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