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transparent atmosphere & unrippled [ink smear] furnished a suitable theatre for the exhibition of her silvery magic -- Here & there a light in some cabin ashore or the fire on a raft or flat boat was reflected in the water, giving variety to the scene, or the ponderous mass of a steamboat come slowly onward thro' the uncertain light, enveloped the [unclear -ing] cloud of smoke & steam, emblem of power, moving majestically thro the quiet water, regardless of current, wind or weather. The occasional shout or song of the boatman were the only evidence of any animated presence than our own - the vast forest spreading over hill & valley to water edge [?] mountain top & not a habitation seen of man or human kind -- The deep shadows & uncertain distinctness of the scene seemed to taunt the [unclear -man] with his shallowness to tempt him on & loose him in the depth of thought begot of peering into caverns of unfathomable shade- the light like liquid silver was evanescent, [unclear -ing] on the surface of the water