112 
THE FERN PARADISE. 
green foliage of clustering shrubs, afford shady 
nestling places for waving Fern-fronds which lap 
the surface of the stream, and lend to it a grace¬ 
ful 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 course 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 a dark green mantle, ex¬ 
tending 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 
that boldness of aspect, which lends grandeur to 
a 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 con¬ 
trast with the delightful blue of the sun-lit sky, 
as the hill-tops cut the sheen. The blue sky 
with its golden sunshine, the green woods, the 
