Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-11-05
lfrom the Peoples Journal
A Summer Day in the Forest.

least in the year, to enjoy one long summer dsy
in the solitudes ofSherwood Forest With one
eongenial companion, setting out at an early
hour on foot, have traversed the healthy hills,
followed the clear streams-and nowhere in
the world do clearer streams run-rested in
the sweet shades of Harlow Wood or in the an
cient haunts Of Kirkland, where still stand
trees coeyal with Robin Hood and King John.
There are no days in my life to which look
back as more full of true happiness Such
day was reifeshment to the mind and the
heart for months. In such stroll thoughts
and feelings have sprung up that have had ns
ture enough in them to diiuse themselves
through the press far and wide. To show how
much enjoyment may he gathered in one such
day, will describe one, and that spent in
scenes that had chiefly solitude, sunshine. and
a delicious air to boast of as their attractions
There is piece of scenery about eight miles
rom Nottingham which very likely has al
trscted very little Of the attention of the in
habitantS of that great stocking-weaying and
Interviewing place, but which Is to me very
delightful Entomologists often visit il in the
summer, for il abounds in variety of curious
and splendid insects but otherwise YOU sell
dom encounter anybody there, except il be a
person from the adjoining farms, or the neigh
boring village of 0xton But have trayersed
~ summer after summer, and always with re-
newed pleasure. II is remnant OF the fine
old forest of Sherwood, denuded, it il true. Of
nd Al 10 I..t
bushes carpeted with most elastic turf, and in
habited BY host of the wild denizens of ma
ture. You first become aware Of its pictnres-
que beauty. by finding yourself al little
bridge, beneath which most clear and swift
trout-siream runs; and, arrested by that char
ming object you look around and onward and
discover long valley is filled with wild sed-
yes, scattered with willows and allers and
showing affair off the CHANGING light Of waters
that tempt you visit them. Below YOU the
stream widens into little lake with an island
IN the centre, where you see the water-heus
swimming about and enjoying themselves and
all about the margin Of the water the tall has
socky sedge stands in such shaggy and isola-
ted masses as Bewick delighted to draw. II il
exactly the sort Of scenery that he gloried in
and depicted over and over in the haunts of
his watersheds and always with new traits
Lower down,the prospect is bounded by woods
and copses; but upwards, the valley stretches
most huntingdon the left bounded by green
fields. on the right by healthy hills oftlue moor
land grace.
When last trayersed this scene il was in
The middle OF May. Ii was in the company of
ali old friend, who was as much of a child in
such out-of-door delights asmyself. No soon
er had we stepped off the highway than we sci
foot on the heath and were surrounded by
sights of beauty, smells Of wild fragrance, and
sounds of water running and even roaring
amongst the wild scdges OF the morass. Here,
close to the stream, was a shepherds howell
erected of heath and turf, and provided with
seat, where the summer sheep-washers took
their meals. We entered and safe down having
around us only the healthy hills the sound of
those hurrying waters, and at some little dis
lance two little girls, who watched the gate
through which we had passed to this moor
fand-two little rustic creatures, who there
wait all day long, TO act as iantors to all pas
sengefs, whether mounted or not, and are re-
warded with few half-pence by the more lib
eral, aud amuse themselves in the intervals of
business with all sorts ofchildsh contriyances.
Scarcely were We seated in our pleasant hut
when there came birds Of various kinds vel
low hammers, -linnets, with their rosy-
breasts, pied wagtails, winehats of the richest
colors, tiilarks, and wheat-ears--all came to
drink and cool themselves. II was beautiful
10 see them in their happy freedom, believing
themselves nnobserFed by man. Into the
translucent waters they waded up to the very
necks, whitening and even singing, in their de-
light and SOME stood perfectly still, enjoying
the cool liquid as it streamed through their
feathers and the others dipped and huttered
it over their bodies, and made rufling and
scufiing in the brook that was truly delight
ful to see. As these flew away, others were
eventually coming and taking their places. 1t
was evidently a fashionable bathing-place with
them, and that obviously because the stream
here was shallow, running over the clear
bright gravel most temptingly and accommo-
datingy. 1t was a peep into the life of these
lowly but lovely creatures which is rarely at
tanned, and for the rareness of which we have
70 thank our tyranny Inc happy creatures
seldom s'syeu long 'he sense OF duty lay even
upon them. ihes hau thelf household cares,