

path into the shades of the forest, brings 

 one to the spring. A great, rudely-cut 

 stone marks the place, and makes a kind 

 of background for the cool, limpid pool, 

 into which a few leaves fall from the 

 woods, but which belongs to the open sky 

 and fields. There is certainly no more 

 gentle, reposeful scene than this; so se- 

 cluded from the dust and whirl of cities 

 and thoroughfares, and yet so near to 

 ancient homes, so sweet and life-giving in 

 its service to them, so often and so eagerly 

 sought at all seasons and by men of all 

 conditions. Here oftenest come the rest- 

 less feet of children, and their shouts are 

 almost the only sounds that ever break this 

 solitude. 



To me there is something inexpressibly 

 sweet and refreshing in the familiar and 

 yet unfailing loveliness of this place. The 

 fields are always peaceful, and the slow 

 motions of the cattle grouped here and 

 there under the shadows of solitary trees, 

 or of the sheep browsing in long, irregular 

 lines across the further meadows, give the 

 110 



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