12 HALF-HOURS IN THE GREEN LANES. 



thus the prickly plant itself " hawthorn." " Ham " 

 is a very common termination of our village names, 

 especially in eastern and south-eastern England, 

 and was derived from the original settlements of 

 the early Saxons being "hemmed" in chiefly by 

 hedges. So that this shrub has more or less 

 influenced that dearest of all English words, home, 

 which has been undoubtedly derived from ham ! 



It may appear as if we had wandered from our 

 place " by the tarn side," but if we have it has been 

 merely to glance dreamily and lazily at the quiet 

 history of the lanes and hedges through which we 

 have passed on our way. All these objects are 

 only so many beads, and it is necessary to have a 

 string to connect them together. Now that we have 

 once more arrived at our tarn side, we will proceed 

 to note its inhabitants, animal and vegetable, which 

 have possibly held possession longer than the lords 

 of the manor over which we have been travelling. 

 The quiet of the spot has a subduing charm, and it 

 is in moments like these, when we give ourselves up 

 to the influence of nature, that we feel a true 

 companionship with all living things. Certainly, 

 in this case, the tarn is inexpressibly handy to us. 

 as enabling us, in our rambles in the " green lanes '' 

 not only to rest ourselves after our stroll, but to 

 make acquaintance with objects we cannot find else- 

 where ; and therefore, we feel sure our readers will 

 not be disposed to quarrel with a scheme intended 

 to enlarge the circle of objects which we wish to 

 introduce to their notice. 



