" THE GOOD TIME " COME AT LAST. 159 



This sudden change in the weather, peculiar to the season, acted marvel- 

 lously on the physique hoth of man and animals. Nature universally shared 

 in the grand benefit. Everything flourished as if by magic. Flowers 

 sprang up actively into life and beauty ; insects multiplied by the million ; 

 the growing trees put forth their giant strength ; and Nature vowed soon to 

 be robed as became so lovely a Queen of Beauty. Has she not long since 

 realised her vow ? Assuredly yes ! Oh, if pen, ink, and paper Avould but 

 keep pace with my feelings, how I could dwell upon what I, and those dear 

 to me, have already felt during the past fortnight ! The melody of birds, the 

 aroma of flowers, the happy gambols of innocent children, half-drowned in 

 the sweet dew of buttercups, daisies, and cowslips, — the Cuckoo dodging us 

 about everywhere with his joyous note of welcome ; these, and other pleas- 

 ingly-overwhelming delights, have revived in me, day after day, the feelings 

 of childhood. My heart is younger than ever! Each hour seems to draw 

 a nail from my cofHn. 



The morning of May 29th, found us in the splendid avenue of chesnuts, 

 leading through Bushy Park to Hampton Court.* The day was one of those 

 never-to-be-forgotten days of loveliness and beauty when silver clouds ever 

 and anon conceal the sun, and prevent his being oppressively hot, — lending, 

 at the same time, a most charming efiect to the surrounding landscape. We 

 had walked the entire distance ; leisurely strolling, during the day, over 

 some sixteen miles of ground. When I say that we beheld that grove 

 of chesnuts in all their conceivable beauty of lovely apparel, I say all that 

 can be said. But the reality ! We had hit on the identical day when their 

 glory vf as perfect. Two days' rain had brought them to their majesty. Oh, 

 how I gazed on that vast assemblage of beauty, as each group of flowers, 

 rising in majestic grandeur above its fellow, towered upwards to its lofty 

 summit ! A multitude of Deer lay basking beneath the shade of these 

 gigantic trees. Eooks, too, had made them their summer retreat ; and 

 there were Thrushes, Blackbirds, and Starlings out of number. The hearts 

 of my readers must here help me out. We had a most enjoyable day; and, 

 but for prescribed limits, I could be amusingly discursive on the many in- 

 teresting things we saw, and took a part in. 



Whilst approaching that end of the avenue leading to the statue of Diana, 

 in the centre of the ornamental basin, my self-control was lost. An un- 

 accountable desire stole over me to sing (!) ; and a strain, dear to me in youth 

 — dear to me now, was borne far upon the breeze : 



" The sun his bright rays may withhold, Love, 

 Unreflected the moonbeam may be ; 

 But ne'er till this bosom grows cold, Love, 

 Shall my heart beat for any but thee." 



That I delivered this with amiable effect, I cannot for one moment doubt. 



* This celebrated avenue exceeds a mile in length. 



