172 My Favourite Summer -Houses. 



little churchyard, and the old stocks by the main gate 

 as you enter or emerge. 



" Arcadia found at last for our reward ! 



The village lies in swathes of sunshine sweet ; 

 Green grass is soothing for the weary feet, 

 Even though it be too luscious burial sward. 



To maiden modesty what fit award ! 



The rose-trees year by year the tale repeat 

 Of young life ended pure, without defeat, 



Of hopes long cherished or a heart grown hard. 



And there what uncouth forms the glad eyes greet ? 

 Are these the stocks that once for penal pains 

 Familiar stood as warning to all swains 



Inclined too lightly other's rights to treat ? 

 They moulder now in parody of time 

 When this fair village had its petty crime." 



Then, if we will, we may pass by the Hammer 

 sweet hamlet on to Gomshall and home again. Who 

 can tell how much of the healthful effects of these 

 wanderings is due to the wonderful mixture of aromatic 

 scents the resinous odour of the pines, the scents of 

 fern and whortleberry, of heath and beech, and oak 

 and elm ? 



And then, how often have I taken visitors down past 

 Coldharbour to the Redlands Wood that delightful pine 

 wood with its clumps and clusters, its waving ferns 

 and giant firs one indeed a veritable monster, a mark 

 for miles round, rising high above his fellows head 

 and shoulders over all a very Saul among pine trees. 

 Often, often have I, pointing at this great tree from a 

 little distance, asked my companions new to the place 

 what their notions of his girth was, and would get 

 the most contradictory replies ; and as we neared and 

 neared the trunk of that tree, it appeared literally to 

 grow as we looked and came closer, till, to the surprise 



