ON THE CHOICE OP A GARDEN SITE. 35* 



liis complete knowledge of human nature. No beauty can continue to satisfy 

 that is destitute of the fascinating charm of variety. Natui'e itself j^resents 

 one magnificent series of incessant and never-ending change ; the surface of 

 the earth is variegated with sea and land, hill and dale, forests and burning 

 sands ; lofty mountains, sublime in their I'ugged grandeur ; and flat prairies, 

 like placid oceans of land. He who has an absolute power of choice, there- 

 fore, will do well to secure, not only a beautiful situation, in some such 

 l")Osition as has been indicated, but one whei-e the scenery is varied, and the 

 landscape crowded with interesting objects. Get a distant glimpse of tapering 

 siDires, of rugged rocks, of the rushing train, and the everlasting mountains ; 

 of modern towns and crumbling ruins ; of ducal parks and factory chimneys ; 

 of the grazing flocks and the bounding deer ; and of the moon, shedding a 

 sidelong gleam on some shaggy cave. If the hand of taste cannot create, it 

 can at least develop and assist at the exhibition of these charms j in the words 

 of Mason, it can call into sight 



" Yon stately spire. 



Pierce the opposing oaks' luxurious shade. 

 Bid yonder crowding hawthorns low retire, 



jS^or veil the glories of the golden mead. 

 Hail ! sylvan wonders, hail ! and hail the hand 



Whose native taste thy native charms display'd ! 

 Teaching one little acre to command 



Each envied happiness of scene and shade." 



And if all this variety of scene cannot be secured, at least let us choose as 

 many of them as circumstances permit. Nature's own variety of the seasons, 

 at least, may be secured, — Spring with its freshness, Summer with its beauty, 

 Autumn with its rich warmth of glory, and pale Winter 



" Casting his silvery mantle o'er the woods, 

 And binding in crystal chains the slumb'ring floods." 



And the innumerable phases of variety which pervade the elements of earth 



and ail', the sea, and flowing waters may be obtained ; or, as PoUok has 



it, of — 



"Day 



And nigbt, and rising suns and setting suns, 



And clouds that seem like chariots of the saints 



By iiery coursers drawn ; as brightly hued 



As if the glorious bushy, golden locks 



Of thousand cherubim had been shorn off, 



And on the temples hung of Morn and Even." 



D. T. F. 



D 2 



