292 SKETCHES OP RURAL AFFAIKS. 



tint, which often adds great beauty to the corner of a 

 wood, or the side of some crowded clump." 



Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, in his edition of Gilpin's 

 Forest Scenery, endeavours to rescue the hawthorn from 

 this slight upon its beauty. He says, " We think Mr. 

 Gilpin is peculiarly hard on the hawthorn. Even in 

 a picturesque point of view, which is the point of view 

 in which he always looks at nature, the hawthorn is 

 not only an interesting object by itself, but produces a 

 most interesting combination or contrast, as things may 

 be, when grouped with other trees. We have seen it 

 hanging over rocks, with deep shadows under its foliage, 

 or shooting from their sides in the most fantastic forms, 

 as if to gaze at its image in the deep pool below. We 

 have seen it contrasting its tender green, and its deli- 

 cate leaves, with the brighter and deeper masses of the 

 holly and the alder. We have seen it growing under 

 the shelter, though not the shade, of some stately oak ; 

 embodying the idea of beauty protected by strength. 

 Our eyes have often caught the motion of the busy 

 mill-wheel, over which its blossoms were clustering. 

 We have seen it growing grandly on the green of the 

 village school, the great object of general attraction to 

 the young urchins, who played in idle groups about 

 its roots ; and perhaps the only thing remaining to be 

 recognised when the school-boy returns as the man. 

 We have seen its aged boughs overshadowing one half 

 of some peaceful woodland cottage ; its foliage half 

 concealing the window, whence the sounds of happy 

 content and cheerful mirth came forth. We know that 

 lively season, 



' When the Milkmaid singeth blythe, 

 And the mower whets his scythe, 

 And every shepherd tells his tale 

 Under the hawthorn in the dale ; ' 



and with these and a thousand such associations as 

 these, we cannot but feel emotions of no ordinary nature, 

 when we behold this beautiful tree." 



