WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



who did not attempt to conceal her open admira- 

 tion. The girl's own sister, however, prevented 

 its being administered to him. But from the first 

 I have held those who live under green leaves in 

 high esteem : their sterling honesty, their handiness 

 in all they set their hands to, their determination 

 not to be beaten over difficult jobs these qualities, 

 added to their stubborn independence, make them 

 prime favourites of mine, and to this class I owe 

 the greater part of my knowledge of the southern 

 counties. 



Often has one or another of the woodmen brought 

 me news of stray visitants and birds sights that they 

 knew would have interest for me. One day, for 

 instance, I was told that great flocks of bramblings 

 were in some particular old beech-woods, a pair of 

 the birds being brought to me as specimens. This 

 was in the winter -time, and as they fed directly 

 the sun got high enough to make the snow-covered 

 country glisten, I started very early for the five 

 miles' walk through the deep snow ; bitterly cold 

 it was, and the stars were shining brightly. 



Snow-covered woodlands have a silent beauty of 

 their own, more especially when the hard - frozen 



