Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-11-05

crown of those we went, enlightening each
stones of sedge must have been TO our. ances-
tors, in the old, far-oif uncultivated days of the
Without them, indeed, many parts
of forests would have been impossible. From
step, and plunging, with cries and laughter,
into the stream below; now soaring the phes-
SAINT from her retreat; and now startling the
trout as we came suddenly on bend of the
brook that wound through them. But we
could not discover what we sought most ear
nestly, the nests Of snipes that are said to be
found here.
said that few people, except the peasantry,
are seen here yet, while in the very midst of
this wild morass there came riding up the val
ley lady and gentleman, seeming to enjoy the
scens as much as ourselves, and certainly ad-
ding no little to its effect Never, in my eyes,
do elegant people show so well as when riding
in such scenes. In the streets Of great cities,
or in the parks of the metropolis, they seem to
make only a part of the pageant of the place,
part only Of one great mass of artificial splen-
dor and human rivalry Hither they seem led
by purer and more elevated tastes, and coll up
far different feelings. You cannot but imagine
them fond of the country, fond of domestic
life fond of all the poetry and reading which
attaches to such a life; that they have hit on
the true track of happiness, OF rather have not
hauutlod he mo aNthitian md disEi.
patton from il. Well, let them so, whoever
and whatever they were to me they furnished
a delightful picture. I saw them called out by
the charms of the country, on this sweet, clear
morning. ! imagined all the heartfelt eircum-
stances that attended their progress their ad-
mlraton Of the beauty around them, OF the
fresh air, of the healthy hills, the sffeetionate
associations and literary reeollections which
the time, the season, and the scene would call
up, while they were fastening away again,per-
haps to
Some cottage home, from towns and tolls remote
Where love and lore alternate hours employ
TO snatch from heaven anticipated joy.
But wherever they went, we made our way
OUT Vi tue pUks " thC SOiiu Stbuhh thNl NNAN
now traversing, and there the scene which pre-
scented itself was like that which we may sup
pose in some enchanted land. The whole val
lev and open hills were scattered with heaps
81 the most resplendent gold in other words
the gorse bushes were in full bloom, and not
only filled the air with their rich, orange-like
odor, but every branch was covered with pro-
fusion of such large and lustrous blossoms, as
those who see the fur2e only in dusty lanes
have no conception Of In the lareh wood on
the opposite side Of the valley, we could see
all the openings and rulings filed with this
vegetable glory, just as ii it were a fairy land
itself, and all its green avenues were paths Of
woven gold. To talk Of such thug gives no
adequate idea of lis beauty. To contemplate
this scene We threw ourselves down in a little
glen on the turf and lay and looked ON the
rich expanse. Here accident introduced us to
a new pleasure. My old friend, who could not
long be severed from his pipe, drew ii forth,
and calmly began to send up blue wreaths Of
smoke, that in their lowering stiffness were ty-
pical of his own content. But other smoke, OF
more turbd and rapid character, and the
rushing sound, as of a sudden whirlwind, close
behind us, startled US from our repose and
made Us spring 10 our feet. The lucifer match
flung carelessly behind my old friend had igni-
ted a stupendous gore-bush, and never did
painter behold scene more bit for his pencil.
The whole bush was, as ii were, at once filed
- "a. IA.
flowers, the flames deyoured it with wonderful
eagerncss and rapidty. In a few seconds it
was one mass of intense glory 1t gave lis a
very vivid conception of the burning bush
interior was one mass of white heat, the extc-
rior streams of brilliant flames, mingled with
columns of rolling smoke and fire. In few
moments it was burnt to ashes.
Charmed with the incident we assembled to
the hilltop, and set on fire another BUSH
Scarcely had it taken FIRE, when four men came
running from grayel-pit, amazed, as they
said that the forest had taken fire and SO en-
ehanted were they at the beauty and ylyacity
of the flame, that they seemed transported out
/ VI tucluotheS. olu hlCT US tutJ mtiEy tHCl
snatched up pieces Of hanlng furse, and set
fire to five or six bushes The Gre ragged and
spread this whole hilltop was in fame, and
had il been night would have alarmed the
whole country round. Having had our trolic
and seen not oBly scene Of wonderful and I'm.
expected beauty, but how extremely intlam-
msble this plant is, and therefore, how readl,
whole tracts of forest might be laid waste bJ
| il, we were anxious 10 see the whole Gre eAtin.
guished, and had some difficulty to restrain
the excitement of these peasants, who now be.
came more like wild haechanals than sobel
Nottinghamshire laborers
Suddenly the men, as il struck by one stimuli
taneous feeling, assumed a sober look, ant
turned to regain the grayel-plt and their labor
Astonished at this, looked round and at ono,
perceived the cause. A large farfneriy looking
man, on large horse, followed by two grey
hounds, came riding At rapid rate over knoll
and heath towards US. There was an air o
authority and excitement about him; he hat
evidently been alarmed by the fire. WHO il
that?n asked we. at is Sir John SIS bal
lif, said the men, and were hurrying away Il
their work.
| Halloa halloal there, Wagstaiie! Bear.
dali Birks! What's this? What's this Gre
Come hitherl say, come hither"
The fellows looked aghast at each other
There Il be the ID TO pay, nov sale
they, one 10 the other, aud stood like so many
posts, while the baiiti came galloping up, his