40 PEARLS AND PEBBLES. 



parallel, by a quick-sefc hedge ; on the other side were 

 high sloping banks, the unfenced boundary of upland 

 pastures. 



On the grassy slopes grew tall oak trees and a tangled 

 jungle of wild bushes, among which woodbine and 

 sweet briar entwined, forming luxuriant bowers, beneath 

 which all sorts of flowers grew in rich profusion. 



On the other, or lower side of the lane, a little tinkling 

 rill, that a child might step across, ran down, its water 

 clear and bright. From this slender streamlet we chil- 

 dren drank the most delicious draughts from Nature's 

 own chalice, the hollow of our hands, or sipped its pure 

 waters, like the fairies we read of, from the acorn cups 

 that strewed the grass. 



The banks of the stream were lined with sweet 

 purple violets, primroses, and the little sun-bright 

 celandine ; and later on there was good store of wild 

 strawberries, which we gathered and strung upon a stalk 

 of grass to carry home to our mother as a peace-offering 

 for torn frocks and soiled pinafores, or leave out-stayed. 



This charming spot was our Eden. In it we laid out 

 beds and planted a garden for ourselves. Like Canadian 

 squatters, we took to ourselves right of soil, and made a 

 free settlement sans ciremonie. The garden was laid 

 out right daintily. The beds were planted with double 

 daisies and many garden bulbs and flowers discarded or 

 begged from the gardener's parterres. A hollow in the 

 bank was fashioned into a grotto, which we lined with 



