90 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



of trees to a mansion about a furlong distant. We entered, and 

 rested ourselves awhile at the foot of some large oaks. The house 

 was nearly hidden among trees, and these, seen across the clear 

 grass land, formed, we thought, the finest mass of foliage we had 

 ever seen. A peculiar character was given it by one or two 

 purple-leaved beeches tall trees, thickly branched from the very 

 ground. The cattle in this pasture-lawn were small and black, 

 brisk and wild-looking, but so tame in reality that, as we lay 

 under the tree, they came up and licked our hands like dogs. 

 The whole picture completely realized Willis's ideal-sketch, "The 

 Cottage Insoucieuse" 



After this the country was more elevated and broken, and the 

 walk delightful. We saw many beautiful things, but have seen 

 so many, more interesting, since, that I hardly remember them. 

 The road was more traveled. We met a stage-coach, with no 

 inside passengers, but the top overloaded, and a stylish carriage- 

 and-four, the near wheeler and leader ridden by postillions in 

 bright livery, and within an old gentleman, wearing a velvet cap, 

 and a young lady under a blue hood. The fields, too, were more 

 tilled ; and one of fifty acres, which was ridged for some root crop, 

 was the most thoroughly cultivated piece of merely farming 

 ground I ever saw. 



About the middle of the forenoon, we came to the top of a 

 higher hill than we had before crossed, from which we looked 

 down upon a beautiful rich valley, bounded on the side opposite 

 us by blue billowy hills. In the midst of it was the smoke and 

 chimneys and steeples of a town. One square, heavy brown 

 tower was conspicuous over the rest, and we recognized our first 

 cathedral. 



As we approached the town, the road became a crooked paved 

 street, lined with curious small houses, between which we passed, 

 stopping often to admire some singular gable, or porch, or gro- 



