36 THE FERN PARADISE. 



falls suddenly out of its smooth and even descent ; 

 and finally, with a parting "gurgle," disappearing 

 under the dark arch of the bridge. On all sides, 

 growing out of the steep bank that bounds the 

 brook, dropping from the moss-covered sides of the 

 bridge, perched on the tops of the tiny boulders 

 that peep out of the water, ferns drop the tips of 

 their wavy fronds into the cool mirror-like surface 

 of the stream. 



Above, around, beneath us, ferns, ferns, a paradise 

 of ferns ! 



