RIVER SCENERY. 279 



with its purple robes, and all nature appeared to 

 teem with joy and gladness. The party arrived on 

 the banks of the stream, and no sound broke the 

 silence of the scene, except when the inhabitants of 

 the peaceful river darted playfully to its surface. 

 A pair of stately swans floated majestically on its 

 bosom, brushing their plumage against the sedgy 

 weeds, or disturbing the tender branches of the 

 willows which appeared to droop and weep over 

 the clear unruffled water. A variety of shadows 

 were beautifully reflected in it, which changed as a 

 little passing cloud every now and then obscured 

 the splendour of the sun. 



It was the season of repose, and even the cattle 

 appeared to feel its influence, as they stood in 

 groups, meekly and quietly awaiting their even- 

 ing summons. The country around was broken, 

 rocky, and wild. Little torrents foamed, and their 

 angry splash was heard, instead of the gentle ripple 

 of the village brook, and the view of human beings 

 was but rarely caught among the rugged scenery 

 around. The beauty of this wild region was en- 

 hanced in the eyes of the anglers, when they con- 

 trasted it with the flatness of the country through 

 which they had previously passed, and as the view 

 suddenly and unexpectedly broke upon them, they 

 beheld it with redoubled interest. 



The dinner was prepared beneath the branches 

 of a spreading tree " an oak whose boughs were 



