284 
THE FERN PARADISE. 
by the impatient stream, to be released the next 
and to fling a shower of silver drops around 
them. 
Who could resist the temptation to carry away 
a tiny bit of this river and woodland scenery, by 
impounding yon jutting clump of Fern-roots, 
Osmunda, Hard Fern, and Mountain Buckler 
Fern ? There is here enough and to spare, and 
Nature, in her rich profusion, can well afford us 
the pleasure which we derive from the possession 
and transplantation of some of our favourites. 
Nature asks no questions, demands no penalties 
for our spoliation, but freely gives us up these 
wild and beautiful plants. 
We have them still. Taken from the dewy 
moorlands, they nevertheless spread out still their 
characteristic loveliness in our Fern garden, al¬ 
though imprisoned within city walls; and we 
never look at them without experiencing a keen 
sense of pleasure, as we recall all the circum¬ 
stances of our wild ramble in search of them. 
