60 THE NIGHTINGALE. 



taken up their abode amidst its green recesses. 

 They are, indeed, to be heard all along that fine 

 range of wood-covered rock. 



Some years since, an American gentleman, ar- 

 riving in England for the first time, entered it 

 by the port of Bristol. It was evening before 

 the vessel left the mouth of the Severn, to pro- 

 ceed up the river to the harbour. Worn out 

 with the fatigue of a long and harassing voyage, 

 he felt all the powers of mind and body ex- 

 hausted, and the interest and excitement natu- 

 rally caused by the first sight of a new country, 

 seemed almost chased from his mind by his worn 

 and jaded condition. The vessel advanced 

 towards the river. The moon rose, it was the 

 season of nightingales ; and they poured forth their 

 matchless strains on the ears of the delighted 

 stranger, as he gazed with wonder and extacy 

 on the beautiful scenery lighted up by the 

 moonbeams. It was like a fabled scene of en- 

 chantment to him. His fatigue vanished. He 

 forgot his toils, and his perils, and his weariness, 

 and thought only what a land of sweet song and 

 bright vision he was entering. On reaching 

 the city the scene changed indeed. His feelings 

 of exhaustion returned, and he sunk, almost as 

 soon as landed, into the torpid rest of over-wea- 

 ried nature. But never did he lose the delight- 



