A BOTANICAL SCRAMBLE ON HELVELLYN, 7 



hill. In the moist moss by the Ghyll sides, Carex (Ederi, the round-leaved 

 Sun-dew, (Drosera rohindifoUa,) and the Danish Scurvy -grass, {Oochlearia 

 Danica,) were plentiful; and in the stream itself, dense masses of Montia 

 fontana put out their inconspicuous flowers. 



Having satisfied ourselves with the good things above Red Tarn, thoughts 

 of dry clothes and a comfortable meal presented themselves vividly to our 

 minds, and as the only way of attaining these ends was to get down, we at 

 once addressed ourselves to our descent. But first we had to ascend, and to 

 save a long and tedious walk, boldly ventured on one of the worst parts of 

 Stridding Edge, a huge rock, which, to an imaginative mind, presented the 

 appearance of a mass of crystals of carbonate of soda, immensely magnified. 

 We did get over them, and, spite of thick mist and drenching rain, made 

 our way to the very stream by which we had ascended — thanks to my friend's 

 knowledge of the country — and down. 



By this time the mist began again to clear away, and gave us a glimpse 

 of the range of hills known as Wythburn Head, with a fine Ghyll, which, 

 in the words of Thomson, 



"Smooth to tlie brink a copious flood 

 EoUs fair and placid; where collected all 

 In one impetuous torrent, down the steep 

 It thundering shouts, and shakes the countrj^ round." 



So near, however, did the hills appear, and so unusually high, that we began 

 to doubt if we had not got wrong by some chance or other. This was but 

 a freak of the mist, as we learnt on descending a little further, and coming 

 in view of the modest little church and the inn, to which with all speed we 

 hastened, and reached about six in the evening, in time to enjoy a hearty 

 meal, and a pleasant walk home. And was it for this that two happy little 

 creatures left the quiet comforts of Keswick, and encountered so many dangers 

 from precipitous rocks, uncertain mists, and drenching rain? Not altogether — 

 the plants were rare, and as such we prized them; but we had another and 

 a deeper source of enjoyment than the mere acquirement of so many rarities; — 

 not a vapoury cloud; not a rugged rock or mountain torrent; not a sun-lit 

 knoll or dark forbidding chasm; not a sound caused by passing wind, whether 

 it be the whisperings 'mid the leaves of some patriarch of the forest, or the 

 howling of the wildest storm, but speaks of power, wisdom, and goodness to 

 the heart of the naturalist, who, 



"Exempt from public haunt, 

 Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, 

 Sermons in stones, and good in everythiug." 



Kesioich, August 12<A., 1852. 



