THE FEI1N PARADISE. 



waving Fern-fronds, rises up against the tall and 

 matted shrubs from the hedges which run to 

 meet it, and mingling its own wealth of green 

 twigs with the branches of a small oak on the 

 opposite side of the way, forms a delightful 

 canopy of quivering leaves, through which the 

 blue of -the sky, and the fleecy white of the 

 passing clouds, can just be seen. 



Who could resist the temptation to wander 

 into such a bower as this ? for bower it seems. 

 When, however, we reach the hedge-bank that 

 appears to bar the way, our astonishment is great 

 to find that it is not a cul-de-sac which we have 

 entered ; for a turning to the left, so sharp as to 

 be unseen until we approach it closely, reveals 

 the most beautiful green and ferny lane which 

 it is possible for the imagination to conceive. 

 Oh ! the glorious wealth of waving green, wild 

 flowers and Fern-fronds, which the eye surveys, 

 as it delightedly wanders along the charming 

 vista which bursts upon us ! On our right and 

 on our left, just where the lane bends round, two 

 stately Brakes stand, as if placed there to guard 

 this inner paradise of the Ferns. And on the 



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