232 PROSPECT. 



having entertained an idea, I was deter- 

 mined to carry it out, with indefatigable 

 perseverance, to its natural result. 



This caused me many a long, but 

 always pleasant, though solitary ride, along 

 the glades of the New Forest, a locality 

 full of the most picturesque landscapes, and 

 rife with historical events. Here I beheld 

 the smoke curling from the thatched roof 

 of the woodman's cottage, with its garden 

 and nicely-trimmed fence, and a solitary 

 cow contentedly ruminating on the luxu- 

 riant lawn before it ; while at irregular dis- 

 tances stood in their perfection some of the 

 best specimens of the majestic oak : there 

 to the right of the lone public, called 

 Stony Cross, were the remains of the tree 

 from which glanced the arrow that lay 

 the second William dead ; while I was ad- 

 miring one or recalling the other, came 

 bounding by, a herd of the most grace- 

 ful animals in the creation, all tending 

 to give additional zest to the pleasing 



