78 FROM SPRING TO FALL. 



those bird paradises that can be found close to 

 home. And what can be more beautiful than these 

 meads, meadows, and fine park-lands dotted over 

 with noble trees ? The valley of Holmesdale is 

 before us, and the hills are above and around us. 

 A man I once knew said to me, " I have been in 

 many lands, but you have shown me one of the 

 fairest sights I have ever seen." Yet it is only 

 one out of thousands to be found at any time in 

 fair weather or foul, in summer or in winter, quite 

 accessible too, round and about our Surrey hills. 



As we stand thinking, all the life-giving odours 

 from trees and plants come to us and then leave 

 us for a time, as the light air left them. Swallows 

 dash under the arches of the grey bridge, and the 

 sand-martins flit like butterflies from their holes 

 in the banks ; all is full of joyous life. Even the 

 voices of the rooks are in harmony ; they fall in 

 like the chanting of black friars. The whole sur- 

 roundings, if we set on one side the unrivalled 

 beauty of the scenery, are full of interest, for they 

 have historical records of their own. 



Religious establishments once flourished near the 

 Mole, with their monks and friars; and the great 



