62 Country Rambles. 



occasional breaks and interspaces disclosing green 

 hollows filled with sunlight, or crested knolls that seem 

 like sanctuaries; delicate pencillings of lighter foliage 

 throwing into grand relief the darker and heavier masses, 

 in this sweet land there is never any sense of sameness, 

 we are awakened rather to the power there is in perfect 

 sylvan scenery, as well as in that of the mountains, and 

 the sea-margin, to elevate and refresh one's entire spiritual 

 nature. Very pleasant is it when we can simultaneously 

 thank God for creating noble trees, and let the mind rest 

 upon a fellow-creature as the immediate donor. Many 

 of the old Dunham oaks date considerably further back 

 than the time indicated. England is dotted all over with 

 individual trees, the age of which is rightfully estimated 

 by centuries, and Dunham Park is not without its 

 reverend share. 



Emerging from the park, past the old mill beloved 

 of sketching artists there are pleasant footways across 

 the meadows that conduct eventually to Lymm. To 

 trace them was, in the bygones, a never-failing enjoyment. 

 Now we go to Lymm direct by train, finding there, as 

 of old, one of the most beautiful of the Cheshire waters ; 

 in this case, however, of origin very different from the 

 Vale Royal meres. The water at Lymm, romantic and 

 picturesque as are its surroundings, is simply a vast 

 reservoir, brought into existence by the construction of 

 the viaduct at the foot. The site now occupied by the 

 water was originally a little vale, down which flowed a 

 streamlet called the Dane. Becoming very narrow where 



