THE FERN PARADISE. 



Ferns which grow shuttlecock fashion on the 

 sloping banks. Here, in the full daylight, we 

 can see and admire the varying shades of glorious 

 green which the Fern-fronds wear the dark 

 green of full-grown Brakes contrasting, for in- 

 stance, with the lighter shade of the incipient 

 fronds, or with their own golden-green tips. 



Again, for a moment, on its way down the 

 hill-side, the lane opens up a prospect of the 

 richly- clothed valley which we are now nearing 

 once more. On our right, below the hedge-bank 

 over the open top of which we can peer a 

 meadow runs steeply down to a point where it is 

 met on each side by two gracefully sloping up- 

 lands, beautifully though sparingly wooded. From 

 the point of junction of meadow and upland the 

 ground, by a slow descent, sweeps away to the 

 town, which, partly hidden by the trees which 

 embower it, and partly screened by the rise of the 

 uplands, lies picturesquely along the river banks. 

 Beyond the town the wood and meadow-covered 

 slopes rise upwards towards the sky. The peep 

 is exquisite, and affords for a moment a delightful 

 contrast to the peculiar charms of the ferny lane. 



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