OLD ROADS. 53 



This kind of scenery is common in almost all those 

 old roads which are not used as thoroughfares, but as 

 avenues of communication between our small country 

 villages. Our land is full of these rustic by-ways ; 

 and the rude scenery about them is more charming to 

 my sight than the most highly ornamented landscapes 

 which have been dressed by the hand of art. A part 

 of their charm arises, undoubtedly, from their associa- 

 tion in our minds, with the simplicity of habits that 

 prevails among our rural population. But this is not 

 all. I believe it arises chiefly from the absence of al- 

 most all decoration, save that which nature has planted 

 with her own hands. Wherever we see a profusion of 

 ornaments introduced by art, though they consist en- 

 tirely of natural objects, we no longer feel the presence 

 of nature's highest charm. Something very analogous 

 to sunshine is shut out. The rural deities do not dwell 

 there, and cannot inspire us with a fulness of satisfac- 

 tion. It is difficult to- explain the mystery; but when I 

 am rambling the fields, or travelling over one of these 

 old roads, with that sort of quiet rapture, with which 

 we drift along in a boat, down a narrow stream, through 

 the green woods in summer, — the very first highly arti- 

 ficial object I encounter which bears evidence of being 

 put up for exhibition, dissolves the spell, — and I feel, 

 all at once, as if I had stept out of Paradise, into the 

 land of worldlings and all their sordid vanities. 



The beauty of these old roads does not consist in 

 their crookedness, though it cannot be denied that this 

 quality prevents their being tiresome, and adds variety 

 to our prospect, by constantly changing our position. 

 Neither does their beauty consist in their narrowness, 

 though it will be admitted that this quality contributes 

 to their pleasantness, by bringing their bushy side-walks 

 5* 



