VIII 



OF PURFLING AND PURISM 



T HAVE met Purfling. 



A little while ago, coming across Slattery's 

 lawn where it borders the river, I saw a man 

 standing on the wooden bridge at the top of the 

 shallow. I always approach this bridge with 

 hosannahs on my lips ; it is in such a very 

 beautiful place. Here the Valley opens out sud- 

 denly. Great meadows, among which the river 

 saunters, and great elms and the two downs that 

 close the view the one round and green, the 

 other capped with its clump and streaked red 

 with plough land compose the prospect up- 

 stream. Beyond the downs, right in the broad V 

 they make, the sun sets on summer evenings, and 

 out of the sunset the red quills float towards 

 one, and in the lit water broad black rings appear. 

 Crab Hatch is just round the corner, and Crab 

 Hatch holds the fathers of the stream. 

 This is the best bit of the river. 



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