54 A Walk from 



many millions more on continents more recently settled 

 by the same race, across the ocean, and across century- 

 seas of time, shall moor their memories to these humble 

 dwellings of England's hamlets, and feel how many 

 taut and twisted liens attach them to the motherland of 

 mighty nations. 



On reckoning up the log of my first day's walk, I 

 found I had made full twelve miles by road and field ; 

 and was more than satisfied with such a trial of country 

 air and exercise, and with the enjoyments of its scenery 

 and occupations. The next day I made a longer 

 distance still, from Coggeshall to Great Bardfield, or 

 about eighteen miles ; and felt at the end that I had 

 established a reasonable claim to convalescence. The 

 country on the way was marked by the quiet and happy 

 features of diversified plenty. The green and gold of 

 pastures, meadows, and wheatfields ; the picturesque 

 interspersion of cottages, gardens, stately mansions, 

 parks and lawns, all enlivened by a well-proportioned 

 number of mottled cows feeding or lying along the 

 brook-banks, and sheep grazing on the uplands, all 

 these elements of rural life and scenery were blended 

 with that fortuitous felicity which makes the charm of 

 Nature's country pictures. 



At Bardfield I was again homed for the night by a 

 Friend ; and after tea made an evening walk with him 



