20^ A YEAR or LIBERTY ; OR, 



Whilst watcHing all this loveliness the sun sank into the sea, and 

 presently a deep rosy flush rose higher and higher till it reached the 

 zenith, when it began to descend towards the south-east. Can that 

 portend rain ? Every sign in heaven, earth, and air said No. Then 

 it must be for wind ; and the sun, which has just sunk to rest, must 

 rise very early to-morrow if he wishes to see me before I have 

 measured half the distance to Kylemore. 



For the last three or four days we have been following the coast 

 line which bounds Connemara, and have in that time shown the 

 reader " bits" of this fair land ; but before leaving it, if he desires 

 to obtain a bird's-eye of the whole, let him come with me to the 

 summit of Urrisbeg, and see as glorious a panorama as ever was 

 spread out to call forth man's adoration and fill his heart with 

 gladness. The rough mountain path has long been lost, and now 

 we wander on over a carpet of heather spangled with a thousand 

 flowers, from slope to slope, till we gain the highest point. South- 

 wards the whole coast lies spread out before us, with its innumer- 

 able bays and deep fiords sleeping in the sunshine ; whilst dense 

 volumes of white smoke from the kelp-burners' kilns spread a silvery 

 veil over sea and land. Looking northwards towards Urrismore the 

 eye wanders far and wide over a vast level district nearly uninhabited, 

 almost uncultivated, and dotted with well nigh three hundred lakes, 

 whilst at our feet blooms in rare luxuriance the Menziesia polifolia, 

 many a saxifrage, and the deep purple stars of the Gentiana 

 autumnalis, with a hundred more common but not less beautiful 

 plants. 



How such a picture stirs the blood and gives fresh vigour to brain 

 and limb ! Such a view once seen becomes engraven for ever on the 

 memory, and will visit us many a day hence, when once more in the 

 busy world, to cheer us in sorrow and give us new strength for 

 fresh toil. 



