FOOTPATHS 



From hence the path skirts the hedge enclosing 

 a copse, part of which had been cut in the winter, 

 so that a few weeks since in spring the bluebells 

 could be seen, instead of being concealed by the 

 ash branches and the woodbine. Among them 

 grew one with white bells, like a lily, solitary in 

 the midst of the azure throng. A " drive," or 

 green lane passing between the ash stoles, went 

 into the copse, with tufts of tussocky grass on 

 either side and rush bunches, till further away the 

 overhanging branches, where the poles were uncut, 

 hid its course. 



Already the grass has hidden the ruts left by the 

 timber carriages the last came by on May-day 

 with ribbons of orange, red, and blue on the 

 horses' heads for honour of the day. Another, 

 which went past in the wintry weeks of the early 

 year, was drawn by a team wearing the ancient 

 harness with bells under high hoods, or belfries, 

 bells well attuned, too, and not far inferior to those 

 rung by handbell men. The beat of the three 

 horses' hoofs sounds like the drum that marks time 

 to the chime upon their backs. Seldom, even in 

 the far away country, can that pleasant chime be 

 heard. 



But now the timber is all gone, the ruts are 

 hidden, and the tall spruce firs, whose graceful 

 branches were then almost yellow with young 

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