92 Country Rambles, 



about amid the trees in winter, for the artist of pre- 

 Raphael vision, there is bijouterie; the chaste and 

 tender arabesque given to rock and aged bough by green 

 moss and grey and golden lichen, gems of nature that 

 when the trees are leafy are apt to be skipped, but when 

 all else is cold and bare, like faithful affection, "make 

 glad the solitary place." 



Between Alderley and Chelford, pushing still further 

 along the Congleton road, we find yet another of the 

 Cheshire meres, this one, in itself in the time of water- 

 lilies, worth all the travel. Reeds Mere, famous in local 

 fairy tale, is to the painter and the poet, when the lilies 

 are out, a floral Venice. Virtually, it is in Capesthorne 

 Park, the seat of one of the younger branches of the very 

 ancient Davenport family. To get to the water's edge, if 

 time be short, the nearest point to start from is Chelford, 

 but the road above indicated is so charmingly wooded, 

 that not to go that way is distinctly a loss. Chelford 

 village may be reached by a field walk, commenced first 

 below Alderley church, crossing the meadow slantwise 

 and leftwards, and so past Heywood Hall, going pre- 

 sently through a plantation of Scotch firs. Hard by 

 there is another charming seat, with spacious park, rare 

 trees, and ornamental water Astle Hall, the residence 

 of Captain Dixon. In the grounds we are reminded of 

 Norcliffe, for here, too, is shown the love of Conifers 

 which always indicates good taste. 



