186 DICK ROOK. 



It was some years after this, and on a fine au- 

 tumnal evening, that one of the Portsmouth coaches 

 deposited me within a couple of miles of the resi- 

 dence of the friend I was about to visit. I hired 

 a man to convey my carpet-bag and gun-case to 

 the house, and walked merrily on enjoying the 

 beauty of the evening* The fox-glove still shewed 

 a small remainder of blossom on the upper spike, 

 and some modest little flowers sparkled on the 

 sand-banks by the side of the deep lane along 

 which my road lay. Here and there a brown hazel 

 nut which had escaped the search of the neigh- 

 bouring peasant boys, reminded me of my school- 

 gone days ; and the call of numerous partridges, 

 the cooing of ring-doves, and the heavy flight of 

 rooks on their way to their roosting trees, all added 

 to the enjoyment of my walk. How charming is 

 nature, and how much is there to delight and 

 amuse us in her instructive volume ! The offerings 

 of those pretty plants, which Flora presents to us 

 with so much grace, beguile and sweeten our rural 

 walks. Every thing speaks of freshness, repose, 

 and beauty ; and insensible must that heart be to 

 all the blessings of a benevolent Providence, who 

 can pass by the works of His creation, unmindful 

 of the hand which bestowed them, or without feel- 

 ing grateful for the various objects of enjoyment, 

 which have been so lavishly spread before him. 



On arriving at the house of my kind friend, I 



