FOREST SCdfei^y 15 



N^M 



delicate oak fern ; the rich fragrance of the pink flowers 

 of the Linnaea borealis mingles with the resinous odour of 

 the firs ; masses of lichens clothe the rocks ; the graceful 

 foliage of birch and aspen diversify the scene ; and the 

 stately spires of the spruces tower above all ; whilst from 

 out the silent forest, between the ruddy trunks, the eye 

 wanders far away westward 



" To distant mountains, where a thousand peaks 

 Flush to the crimson of the dawn's first beam 

 Or sparkle silver splendours to the moon." ' 



We have no lack of sketches of Norwegian scenery from 

 the pens of British tourists, by whom the country is 

 generally described as a land, the most characteristic 

 features of which are forests and fiords ; ' forests whose 

 vastness, and shade, and solitude, and silence banish in 

 an instant all associations with songs of birds, and gay 

 scenery ;' and combined with these are ' lakes whose 

 deep seclusion puts to flight images of mere grace and 

 beauty valleys, which from their depth and gloom one 

 might fancy to be the avenue to abodes of mere mysterious 

 creation j mountains, whose dim, and rugged, and gigantic 

 forms seem like the images of a world which one might 

 dream of but never behold.' Thus is the country spoken 

 of by one intrepid traveller, writing under the nom-de- 

 plume of Derwent Conway ; and in similar terms is it 

 spoken of by others. 



Interspersed in many of the volumes referred to are 

 beautiful little sketches of woodland scenery and of the 

 woodland population. Derwent Conway's tour was made, 

 if I mistake not, in 1827. The following sketches of 

 woodlands and wilds I cite from a volume entitled Rambles 

 in Norway in 184-8 and 184-9, by Thomas Forester, Esq., as 

 being true still of many such places in Norway, notwith- 

 standing the lapse of time which has occurred since the 

 sketches were penned. 



* To regain the valley of the Nid,' he tells in one place, 



