A WOODMAN'S LODGE. 217 



its way, and which is crossed by a rustic bridge. 

 It is at nearly the end of this drive in one direc- 

 tion, and in the neighbourhood of the trees I have 

 referred to, that one of the prettiest Cottages 

 imaginable opens upon our view. 



Nothing can be more smiling and cheerful, or 

 kept in better order, than this abode of the wood- 

 man of the district. His rustic seats, his flowers, 

 and neat kitchen garden, interspersed with fruit 

 trees, all give the idea of rural peace and beauty. 

 The oaks and beeches spread out their arms over 

 the well-kept lawn in front of the cottage, while 

 the wood-pigeon and woodpecker are heard in the 

 adjoining thicket. 



This sort of cottage is peculiarly English, and is 

 always noticed with pleasure by foreign travellers in 

 our island. A late one* says, " England is described 

 always very justly, and always in the same words 

 e it is all one garden/ There is scarce a cottage 

 between Dover and London (seventy miles) where 

 a poet might not be happy to live. I saw a hun- 

 dred little spots I coveted with quite a heart-ache/' 

 And in the description of his drive from London to 

 this immediate part of the country, he uses these 

 graphic expressions : "The scenery on the way was 

 truly English one series of finished landscapes, of 

 every variety of combination, lawns, fancy cottages, 

 manor-houses, groves, roses and flower gardens, 

 make up England. It surfeits the eye at last. You 



WILLIS. 

 L 



