146 



SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



of the day arrived that the Highland candlesticks were 

 to be inspected, four uncommonly handsome young men, 

 in elegant Highland dresses, unexpectedly entered the 

 room with blazing torches of fir in their hands. It was 

 universally agreed that these were the candlesticks used 

 in the Highlands, and those referred to when the bet was 

 laid, and also that they were the most valuable. The 

 gentleman, therefore, who proposed it, lost the bet." 



I Vol. ii. p. 440. 



Wordsworth notices the strong outline made by the 

 dark Fir in the dusk of evening, which makes it one of 

 the last objects visible : 



" Unheeded night has overcome the vales : 

 On the dark earth the bafiied vision fails ; 

 The latest lingerer of the forest-train, 

 The lone black fir foi^sakes the faded plain." 



Vol. i. p. 67. 



He thus addresses an absent friend : 



' ' And now I call the pathway by thy name. 

 And love the fir-grove with a perfect love ; 

 Thither do I withdraw when. cloudless suns 

 Shine hot, or wind blows troublesome and strong : 

 And thefe I sit at evening, when the steep 

 Of Silver -how and Grasmere's placid lake. 

 And one green island, gleam between the stems 

 Of the dark firs — a visionary scene." 



Vol. ii. p. 279. 



The soft murmuring of the winds in trees of this 

 genus has been noticed repeatedly : 



While o'er my head 

 At every impulse of the moving breeze 

 The fir-grove murmurs with a sea-like sound. 

 Alone I tread this path. 



Wordsworth, ii, 280. 



