90 The New Forest : its History and its Scenery. 



Great and Little Huntley Woods, which the Millaford Brook 

 skirts, here and there flowing out from the darkness of the 

 trees into the sunshine, the banks scooped into holes, and 

 held together only by the rope -work of roots. 



These woods are always beautiful. Of their loveliness in 

 spring we have spoken ; and if you come to them in summer, 

 then the first purple of the heather flaunts on every bank, and 

 edges the sides of the gravel-pits with a crimson fringe ; and 

 the streams now idle, suffer themselves to be stopped up with 

 water-lilies and white crowfoot, whilst the mock-myrtle dips 

 itself far into the water. Then is it you may know something 

 of the sweetness and the solitude of the woods, and wandering 

 on, giving the day up to profitable idleness, can attain to that 

 mood of which Wordsworth constantly sings, as teaching more 

 than all books or years of study. 



The Woodman's Path, Bramble Hill. 



