ALDERS AND REEDS. 91 



and there, for miles ; this is as the place exists at 

 the time I am writing. 



In some of the woodland meadows the streams 

 have cut their way in the most extraordinary man- 

 ner. In one meadow there are so many zigzags 

 that it looks as if the spade and pick had been at 

 work there ; yet it is the natural course of the 

 water, and the result of the wear of ages on the 

 banks. The neighbouring meadow has a straight 

 run through, where the water ripples merrily along, 

 without hindrance. When the streams pass under 

 the road through low arches as a rule, two in 

 number they widen out. This is caused by the 

 cattle coming to drink here, from the walled farms 

 that are close to these low bridges. The last of the 

 old families that lived in these ancient farmhouses, 

 generation after generation, lie in the quaint church- 

 yards : nearly all of the farms have fresh tenants. 

 It is truly remarkable to note how many old tomb- 

 stones have the same Christian names and surnames 

 on them. 



By the way, these old farms do not lend them- 

 selves to modern improvements very readily ; they 

 answered the purpose of those they were built for 



