150 
IIURAL HOURS. 
some period of past time. Quite near the village, from the lane 
where we were walking this evening, one may observe a very bold 
formation of this kind ; the bank of the river is high and abrupt 
at this spot, and it is scooped out into two adjoining basins, not 
unlike the amphitheatres of ancient times. The central horn, as 
it were, which divides the two semicircles, stretches out quite a 
distance into a long, sharp point, very abrupt on both sides. The 
farther basin is the most regular, and it is also marked by suc- 
cessive ledges like the tiers of seats in those ancient theatres. 
This spot has long been cleared of wood, and used as a wild pas- 
ture ; but the soil has never yet been broken by the plough, and 
we have often paused here to note the singular formation, and 
the surprising sharpness of the lines. Quite recently they have 
begun to dig here for sand ; and if they continue the work, the 
character of the place must necessarily be changed. But now, 
as we note the bold outline of the basin, and watch the lines 
worked by the waters ages and ages since, still as distinct as 
though made last year, we see with our o^vn eyes fresh proofs 
that we are in a new countiy, that the meadows about us, cleared 
by our fathers, are the first that have lain on the lap of the old 
earth, at this point, since yonder bank was shaped by the floods. 
Thursday, 28 th. — Thunder shower about sunrise ; it continued 
raining until the afternoon. The shower was much needed, and 
every one is rejoicing over the plentiful supply. 
Walked in the caftemoon, though the sky was still cloudy and 
threatening. Obliged to follow the highway, for the woods are 
damp and dripping, and the grass matted after the heavy rain. 
But our walk proved very pleasant. It is not always those who 
climb in search of a commanding position, nor those who diverge 
