Natural brooks and rivulets may often be improved greatly by a few trifling alterations and additions, when they chance to come within the bounds of a country residence. Occasionally, they may be diverted from their original beds when they run through distant and unfrequented parts of the demesne, and brought through nearer portions of the pleasure grounds or lawn. This, however, can only be done with propriety when there is a natural indication in the grounds through which it is proposed to divert it-as a succession of hollows, etc., to form the future channel. Sometimes, a brisk little brook can be divided into smaller ones for some distance, again uniting at a point below, creating additional diversity by its varying form.* (* The Abbe Delille has given us a fine image of a brook thus divided, in the following lines:- "Plus loin, il se separe en deux ruisseaux agiles, Qui, se suivant l'un l'autre avec rapidite, Disputent de vitesse et de limpidite; Puis, rejoignant tous deux le lit qui les rassemble, Murmurent enchantes de voyager ensemble. Ainsi, toujours errant de detour en detour, Muet, bruyant, paisible, inquiet tour a tour, Sous mille aspects divers son cours se renouvelle.")
