THE LAND OF BLACKBERRIES. 69 



crossed before, and " up hill and down dale," a^Dout three miles, brought 

 us back to the GofFe's Oak again. Tea, — Oh, how delicious ! eggs, 

 fresh butter, — butcher's meat not to be got. Arranged botanical 

 specimens, and "between whiles," peeped in at the basketful of jet 

 Blackberries, and thought of flour and suet, and how long a pud- 

 ding takes to boil. Emerson, nothing better in the world of literature, 

 after a green ramble, — solemn, thoughtful, filled to overflowing with 

 rich green images and wooded sanctuaries of primitive thought, which 

 suit the mind after its powers have been allowed to expand in converse 

 with the bladed grass and honeysuckles. "Warm brandy and v.'ater, 

 rather weak, eases the rigidity of limb, and soothes the body, which 

 the sun has fevered ; and then, sleep is indeed a " comfortable bird ; " 

 and if not a " Key to golden Palaces," at least a grand restorative for 

 another day amongst the Blackberries. 



Six days pass, and each seems more beautiful than its predecessor, 

 till warned of anxieties and cares, and knowing that commercial in- 

 terests permit us not without stint to pluck Blackberries for ourselves, 

 we take train, and are once more in a region not of Blackberries, but 

 black bricks and cold stones and colder hearts, amid 



The weariness, the fever, and the fret, 



Here, where men sit and hear each other groan ; 

 Where palsy shakes a few, sad, last grey hairs. 



Where youth grows pale, and spectre-thin, and dies; 

 Where hut to think is to be full of sorrow 

 And leaden-eyed despairs ; 

 Where beauty cannot keep her lustrous eyes, 

 Or new Love pine at them beyond to-morrow. 



There's the bell for dinner ! I know there's a Blackberry and 

 damson pie in the oven ; if I could give a bit to poor Keats, it would 

 make him sing a more cheerly song ; but as I cannot, let me leave this 

 melancholy prosing, and while sprinkling sugar in the purple juice, 

 shout the " Land of Blackberries for ever ! " 



