THE FERN PARADISE. 



green foliage of clustering shrubs, afford shady 

 nestling places for waving Fern-fronds which lap 

 the surface of the stream, and lend to it a grace- 

 ful and beautiful aspect. 



At a short distance to the right of the bridge 

 the stream is lost from sight; but from its 

 boulder-strewn, roaring course the eye is naturally 

 lifted to the glorious view which is to be seen 

 overhead. On both sides, almost from the water's 

 brink, rise two precipitous hills, the one on the 

 right, clothed with a dark green mantle, ex- 

 tending from the surface of the stream to the 

 extreme hill-top, by the gradation of shrub and 

 bush and tree : that on the left sparsely covered 

 with furze and heather ; but both endowed with 

 that boldness of aspect, which lends grandeur to 

 a scene. 



Away to the left of the bridge a similar scene 

 meets the eye ; but here both hill-sides which 

 bound the stream are densely and darkly clothed 

 with trees, which, sweeping upwards, finely con- 

 trast with the delightful blue of the sun-lit sky, 

 as the hill-tops cut the sheen. The blue sky 

 with its golden sunshine, the green woods, the 



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