Preface 



and have no wish to look on better days, nor 

 regret that I have 



Idled all my life away; 



Played with work and worked with play! 



I am often very much amused at some of the 

 land-owners within the range of my rambles. 

 I keep so far within bounds in all I do or say 

 that I escape being regarded as a trespasser, 

 but sometimes, jud^ng from the impatient 

 countenances of those I meet, I am looked upon 

 as a fool. 



The best of what some land-holders have 

 never actually becomes their own. They take 

 nominal possession and I the actual; and when 

 in unguarded moments my enthusiasm leads to 

 audible expression, they gape and wonder at 

 what they hear, and, as I say, set me down for 

 a fool. 



Let me enumerate : There is the beauty of a 

 particular tree — the owner never saw the tree, 

 perhaps; there is the mottled carpet where 

 grass and moss alternate, and ia season dainty 

 flowers brighten the whole; there are the best 

 points from which to view a sunset — how 

 many only know that the sun goes down; and 



vii 



