36 DOVE DALE REVISITED 



by letting things remain as they were. I own I 

 should have felt myself wronged, and I should 

 have been cruelly disappointed, had I found that 

 gate locked, and so have been shut out from 

 even an outside view of this venerable shrine. 



It is pleasant to see that the present proprietor 

 is again planting trees and shrubs and flowers in 

 the surrounding grounds, and when another 

 summer comes they will present a bright and 

 comely appearance to scenes already so grand 

 and imposing in their natural beauty. 



The sight and the scene brought vividly to 

 my mind the memory of days gone by, and on 

 departing I took off my hat and saluted, as all 

 good anglers should, with a conviction that I 

 may never look on the enchanting picture again. 



In my little book, " Days in Dove Dale," I 

 described the scene as follows : 



"On leaving the cottage we suddenly came 

 upon as lovely a bit of the river as is to be 

 found anywhere. Here nature has at some not 

 very recent period been helped by art ; here are 

 rustic stiles and seats, 



' For talking age and whispering lovers made,' 



and here and there beds of rhododendron, lig- 

 num-vitae, and other shrubs and plants tastefully 

 arranged, though now neglected." 



