Overs ley Lodge. 87 



always been a synonym for liberality, and leave to enter 

 when properly sought is not likely to be refused. The 

 same may be said of the picturesque and delightful 

 grounds, a mile further down the valley, which appertain 

 to Oversley Lodge, the residence of Mr. Arthur Greg. 

 The treat here is the wilderness-walk, a portion of which 

 was cut only in 1881, along the side of the principal cliff. 

 During the progress of the clearing a new locality was 

 found for the truelove.* So certain is the reward, not 

 only in important shape, but in little and unexpected 

 ways, of every man who first makes a path through the 

 forest, whether with the axe or with the more subtle 

 tools that are not wrought upon human forges. Spring 

 is the time, above all others, if it can be managed, for 

 these beautiful Oversley woods; for then we have the 

 opening green leaves in a thousand artistic forms, and in 

 endless shades; the violets also, and the satin-flower; 

 and, full of promise, the so-comfortably-wrapped-up ferns 

 that in September will show how nature revels in trans- 

 formations. The Oversley woods abut very closely upon 

 Cotterill, approaching which place there is scenery not 

 inferior in its modest and singular sweetness to that of 

 the vicinity of Castle Mill. The public approach is from 

 Wilmslow, treading first the western margin of Lindow 

 Common, then going through various lanes, and in 

 front of "Dooley's farm." The greensward portion 

 of the country now soon entered is generally distin- 

 guished by the name of the Morley Meadows, and the 



* See above, page 36. 



