VOX-HUNTING IN ENGLAND. 209 



And then the roadsides ! and the stiles and the 

 foot-paths, and the look of age and the richness 

 of the well-kept farms ; and again and every- 

 where the ivy clinging fast to each naked thing, 

 and clothing it with luxuriant beauty ! 



There is in all our hearts an inherited chord 

 that thrills in the presence of this dear old home 

 of our race. Not this spot and not these scenes, 

 but the air, the tone, the spirit of it all, — these 

 are as familiar to our instincts as water to the 

 hen-brooded duckling. 



Brinklow Station has the modern hideousness 

 and newness of railroad stations everywhere in 

 country neighborhoods, and it was pleasant to 

 leave it behind and follow the gay crowd down 

 a sloping and winding road into the real coun- 

 try again, and into a handsome and well-kept 

 park, beyond which there stood a fine old house 

 of some pretension, and well set about with ter- 

 raced lawn and shrubbery, — a charming English 

 country-seat. 



Here my eyes were greeted with the glory of 

 my first " meet," and a glory it was indeed ! 



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