THE FEKN PARADISE. 



green, and in the deepest gorge of the valley 

 the beautiful Dart, its winding course where 

 the glancing water was hidden from view shown 

 by the taller forms and the darker shade of the 

 trees on its banks ! A few moments more, and 

 we have, in following our narrow path, lost the 

 outside view. We are now, in fact, away from 

 the sunlight, and under the shade of the tall 

 and graceful trees of a coppice. Oh, delightful 

 coolness ! Beneath our feet soft velvety turf of 

 glorious golden green. Above, the tall tree-tops 

 screening the sunlight and checkering the blue 

 sky. 



But the Osmunda the stately, the beautiful 

 Osmunda ! We are close upon its habitat. The 

 Fern abounds in lovely Devonshire, and fringes 

 the banks of the Dart, and we are now within 

 sight of that river. We turn from the coppice 

 along a narrow winding path, and as we proceed 

 onward the sound of rushing water strikes on our 

 ear. Now screening branches deepen the shadows 

 on our way, until presently the light comes in 

 upon our path through the tangled shrubs on our 

 right. Putting these on one side and brushing 



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