PLEASANT RAMBLES. 77 



spot ... a healthy spot. And he hekl down his head ; 

 alas ! it was useless for him to hold it erect, frontinfj the 

 lovely scene. Saddened by his presence, we soon moved on, and 

 returning over the cliffs, we came upon another human being, 

 with eyes closed to the beauty around, but closed in sleep, 

 not blindness. A little girl, not more than eight years old, 

 was stretched along the path, her rosy cheek resting on her 

 little arm, which rested on the bare rock. How fast she was ! 

 but as Shakespeare says, " Weariness will snore upon a flint," 

 and here was wearied innocence sleeping on a flint, the 

 summer sun pouring down its rays upon her, and also on 

 the milk, which stood in a can by her side. Whether the 

 milk was as much benefited by this rest in the sun on its way 

 to Ilfracombe, the consumers thereof must say. All I know 

 is, that the picture was very touching, and I placed a penny 

 in the child's half closed hand that she mio;ht find it on 

 awaking. She would think some fairy placed it there. 



On reaching home there was dinner, to which two words 

 had to be said, not contemptuous, believe me ; and then 

 coftee and cigar, with the serenities thereon attending : and 

 then a stroll among the vases, for the inspection of my pets ; 

 and a stroll in the garden where I could inspect the pans 

 under the verandah ; and then study ; and then wdth limbs 

 weary and eyes drooping, to bed : 



" So runs the round of life from hour to hour." 



