Star Papers, Or, Experiences of Art and Nature Volume 50, (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: III. OXFORD. Dear . Did I ever dream of writing you from this renowned seat of learning, memorable in history, the residence of good King Alfred, the birthplace of Richard Ccewr de Lion, the burning place of Latimer, Eidley, and Cranme'r, and the place where many among the greatest historical men were educated ? But I must go back a little, for I believe I have said nothing in either of my letters to others, of my route hither. I send you a forget-me-not which was gathered from the edge of the river Avon, just beneath the wall which divides the face of the churchyard from the water. These little beauties awakened me from a dream by their meek looks, and I determined to send this one to you. To climb down the wall was easy enough, too easy for a man who did not love wetting. I cast about for expedients. For, you must know that the river washes the very wall, and that a little bit of soil, scarcely a foot across, had formed in one spot and proclaimed its triumph by wearing these tufts of flowers for its feather. I studied the wall, speculated upon my relative position to the water and flowers, should I reach such and such a chink. I partly climbed down, and wholly clambered back again, satisfied that it was easier to get myself in, than to get the flowers out. My courage rosewith the difficulty. Have them now I would, if I was obliged to swim for them. I walked down to the mill, a little below, and, crossing over, returned up the other bank, opposite to them. They seemed to my wistful looks further off than ever. Happily, before attempting the Hellespont, Hero-like, I espied someway up the Avon, a boat in charge of two young men, and easily engaged them to put me across to the coveted treasure. Though very rough in their exterior, the fellows had some heart; and when the...