66 
THE FERN PARADISE. 
mg into silent pools, now roaring in mimic fury 
over miniature falls, now calmly flowing by the 
silent banks, which, overhung with the deep green 
foliage of river-side shrubs, send forth their waving 
fern-fronds to lap the surface of the stream, and 
lend to it a graceful and beautiful aspect. 
At a short distance to the right of the bridge 
the stream is lost from sight; but from its boulder- 
strewn, roaring bed the eye is naturally lifted to 
the glorious view which is to be seen overhead. 
On both sides, almost from the water’s brink, 
rise two precipitous hills, — the one on the right, 
clothed with its dark green mantle, extending 
from the surface of the stream to the extreme 
hill-top, by the gradation of shrub and bush 
and tree ; that on the left sparsely covered 
with furze and heather ; but both endowed 
with a majesty of aspect, which lends a stu- 
pendous grandeur to the whole scene. Away 
to the left of the bridge a similar scene meets 
the eye ; but here both hill-sides which bound 
the stream are densely and darkly clothed with 
trees, which, sweeping upwards, finely contrast 
