90 RYDAL PAEK. 



able in the lower part of the park — of being turned 

 out of the paradise very summarily. " The sylvan 

 or rather, the forest scenery of Rydal Park," says 

 Professor Wilson, " was, in the memory of living 

 man, magnificent; and it still contains a treasure 

 of old trees. By all means wander 



BTDAL PAEK. • , / 1 11 1 11 



away into these old woods, and lose 

 yourself for an hour or two among the cooing of^ 

 cushats and the shrill shriek of startled blackbirds, 

 and the rustle of the harmless slow-worm among 

 the last year's beech leaves. No great harm should 

 you even fall asleep under the shadow of an oak, 

 whilst the magpie chatters at safe distance, and 

 the more innocent squirrel peeps down upon you 

 from a bough of the canopy, and then, hoisting his 

 tail, glides into the obscurity of the loftiest um- 

 brage.'" — Ascending from these shades, through a 

 more straggling woodland, the stranger arrives at 

 a clump on the ridge, — the last clump, and thence- 

 forth feels himself wholly free. His foot is on the 

 springy mountain-moss; and many a cushion of 

 heather tempts him to sit down and look abroad. 

 There may be a frightened cow or two, wheeling 

 away, with tail aloft, as he comes onwards ; and a 

 few sheep are still crouching in the shadows of the 

 rocks, or staring at him from the knolls. If he 

 plays the child and bleats, he will soon see how 

 many there are. It is one of the amusements of a 

 good mimic in such places to bring about him all 

 the animals there are, by imitating their cries. One 

 may assemble a flock of sheep, and lead them far 

 out of bounds in this way ; and bewildered enough 

 they look when the bleat ceases, and they are left 

 to find their way back again. It is in such places 



