158 Gawsworth. 



torso, encased in ivy, and protected on its weakest side 

 by a little wall of steps, that seem intended to make it 

 useful as a tree-pulpit, while in the interior bees form 

 honeycombs. Close by is " Gawsworth Hall," again 

 representing the " magpie " architecture of two or three 

 centuries ago, with six great walnut-trees, and inside the 

 gates, a grassy amphitheatre that in days gone by, on 

 the occasion of festivals, served as a village tournament- 

 ground. Water also is there, flowing in a succession of 

 four or five large pools, so thronged with fishes that on 

 fine days, (when they sport near the surface, and gliding 

 through the sunbeams, gleam like silver,) they remind us 

 'of the tadpoles in the corner of a pond. Sycamores 

 shade the path by the largest pool, and reflected from 

 the level surface, which is disturbed only by swans, in 

 sunshine make an arbour fit for Undine. The large 

 ivy-clad building opposite the hall is a country-seat of 

 the Earl of Harrington, who owns most of the land here- 

 abouts ; that one immediately opposite the church is 

 the Rectory. 



The homeward path to Macclesfield is considerably 

 shorter than the railway journey. It lies principally 

 along the road, but is in every way agreeable, and in 

 consequence of the rise and fall of the ground affords 

 some amusing optical illusions. For a considerable dis- 

 tance the road is bordered by beech-trees, the avenues 

 formed by which are at all times beautiful ; when looked 

 at through an opera-glass, so that half a mile of colonnade 



