of it. Then crossing the bridge over the Derwent, proceeding to the Castle inn, and returning along_the east bank under Skiddaw by Bassenthwaite, Dodd Fell, and Crosthwaite, they once more arrive at Keswick. The whole drive may be about eighteen or twenty miles."

"And a pleasant drive, too; but I should rather ramble round it a great deal, and stop to see the cottage children, and the skiff with the white sail, and the wild ducks, and the falcon on the wing, and the squirrel, and the mountain streams, as you did."

"Much did I enjoy my loiterings about Bassenthwaite Water, not only on account of the highly cultivated lands about Wythop's Beck, and the fine mountainous scenery of the neighbourhood, but also because in the woods and coppices, and on the banks of the lake, I had so many calm seasons of leisure and reflection. In common life, Paul, we run into many errors, and we need seasons of reflection to reprove the pride and extreme selfishness of our hearts. From this latter vice none are free;

The beggar whining at the door,

The miser with his pelf,

The high, the low, the rich and poor,

Bow down and worship self.

I look back with thankfulness to my solitary wanderings on the woody skirts of the lake."

"Well! I should like to go to Westmoreland and Cumberland."

"Oh! there are many advantages to be gained by a visit to the lakes. Let me try to make this clear to you. When we look at the works of a clever artist, we think highly of him; but when we see specimens of his workmanship of a much higher order, he rises in proportion in our estimation. Now I believe the same thing takes place on regarding the glorious workmanship of our Great Creator. The simplest natural scene should impress the reflecting mind with love towards Him who made heaven and earth; but when with delighted gaze we see piled up before us the everlasting hills, and spread before us the crystal lakes, more vast, more beautiful and sublime than any we have before beheld, our hearts, if we feel aright, will beat with wonder, delight, and thankfulness."

"Yes, it must be so. I feel that what you say must be true."

Then, again, the book of creation and the book of revelation assist one another, for God's works and God's word are in harmony: they both proceed from the same eternal source, and both tend to set forth the glory of our heavenly Father. This is a point, Paul, that I want to imprint deeply on your mind."

"How earnestly you do look at me!"

"I feel earnestly, Paul, and want my words to sink into your heart. An author has said, 'He is a bad reader of the book of Nature, who finds not therein many of the self-same texts that are inscribed on the pages of the ever blessed book of Truth.' What can be more plainly inscribed on creation in the spring than the

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words, The winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land?' Cant. ii. 11, 12. Is not the text legible in the sky during the summer showers, 'I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth?' Gen. ix. 13. Is it not written on the fields, graven on the furrows, and registered by the returning seasons, While the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease?' Gen. viii. 22. And do not the sunlit skies, the fertile fields, the grazing flocks, the singing birds, and the dancing insects of rejoicing creation cry aloud, 'The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord ?' Psa. xxxiii. 5."

"That is very striking language."

"It is. In many cases nature and holy writ affect us very much in the same manner. When we look at the raging sea, the burning mountain, and the storm as it bursts from the dark cloud, we are struck with fear, and have a sense of the power of the Almighty; but when we hear the singing of the lark and see the sunshine, and green leaves, and flowers, and fruits, and glowing landscapes around us, we have then a consciousness of his goodness. It is so, also, with God's holy word. When we hear of the thunderings of Sinai, and of the darkness that covered the earth on the day of the crucifixion, and when we read that God is a consuming fire,' and will in no wise 'clear the guilty,'

we are overawed by his terrible majesty and holiness; but when we read again that God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,' (John iii. 16.) then have we reason to rejoice in his mercy. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,' 1 Tim. i. 15. There is yet another respect in which the things of creation and the word of revelation move our minds in the same direction. When we look around us inconsiderately, we think but lightly of hills and valleys, meadows and running streams; but when we regard the same scenes as God's glorious workmanship, our hearts are filled with love and thankfulness. Thus, too, when we read holy writ carelessly, it affects us not; but when we ponder on its precious promises, as the never changing word of God, the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ, we are ready to cry out with Thomas, My Lord and my God;' and with David, 'This God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even unto death.' Psa. xlvii. 14. I mention these things, Paul, that my loiterings among the lakes may not be to you merely a pleasant history, but that you may learn from them how to connect God's word and works together; for both in providence and grace 'The Lord is good to all; and his tender mercies are over all his works,' Psa. cxlv. 9."

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CHAPTER XV.

LOITERINGS ABOUT THIRLEMERE.

Wythburn.-Dunmail Raise.-The tradition about king Edmund and king Dunmail. Thirlemere.-The monarch mountains.-Helvellyn and Thirlemere.-Eagle's Crag.-The wooden bridge.Night scene. St. John's Vale.-St John's Beck.-Naddle Fell.— White Pike.-Great Dodd.-Threlkeld Hall.-The fortress-like rock.-Ascent of Helvellyn from Patterdale.—Glenridding.—Red Tarn.-Swirrel Edge, Striding Edge.-Poor Gough.-Ascent of Helvellyn from Wythburn.

"WHAT lake did you visit next to Bassenthwaite Water?" said Paul Ritter to his father; "for there are but three more that you have to describe. I only wish there were just three times the number."

"Be reasonable, Paul-be reasonable!" replied his father. "On the whole you have had a long account, and quite enough to think of for some time to come. went from Cockermouth to Bassenthwaite Water, and then onward once more to Keswick."

"That is where the model of the mountains, and meres, and tarns, is to be seen in the Town-hall.”

"It is. From Keswick I proceeded to the little inn at Wythburn, knowing that I could easily visit