At about four miles from the city, a gardener named Pierce has taken up
his abode on the summit of a high and on all sides nearly precipitous
hill, immediately surrounded by similar elevations, but separated from
them by very deep ravines. Through one of these, encompassing two sides
of the hill, rushes a clear, active little river, such as a trout-fisher
would glory in, only that its banks in this neighbourhood are everywhere
sentinelled by trees of willow, dog-wood, laburnum, &c. whose flowery
arms entwined within each other shadow the clear water, and protect from
the lure of the angler its finny inmates.
Across this ravine lies the ordinary path by which the future stranger,
who is an amateur of Nature's painting, will seek to gain one of those
fair scenes she has lavished much care upon.
No bridge connects the little domain with the busy world, from sight or
sound of which it is isolated as absolutely as was the valley of
Rasselas; but, slowly winding down an abrupt, thickly-shaded forest
path, you at once break through this "leafy skreen" upon the ford, on
the opposite side of which, a little to the right, lies the gate leading
into the garden.
Pushing your horse boldly through the stream,--for, though noisy, the
bottom has been cleared, and is not usually over knee-deep,--you
dismount, and open the only barrier. Right above you stands a rude stone
dwelling, stern and square of outline, and in no way suited or in
keeping with the graceful trees and shrubs whose rich verdure shadow its
rough walls. Towards this you press onward and upward, until the natural
platform on which the dwelling is placed be gained; when the view of and
from this spot will well reward you for a ride through a secluded forest
country, the freshness and wildness of which have already pleased you,
especially if you are, as I happily was on most of my visits here,
accompanied by companions at once fair and intelligent.
Upon this little platform the grass is always of rare verdure for this
country. Immediately in front of the dwelling four or five forest trees
of the finest kind fling their branches athwart the entrance; and, a few
yards removed, around the foot of a venerable elm, is spread a
variegated carpet of daisies and other pretty flowers, whose colours
the Persian loom might be proud to imitate for a prince's divan.
A few garden-seats are placed here and there for the ease of visitors;
and here have I often sat whilst Mr. Pierce was arranging a bouquet,--an
art, by the way, and no mean one, in which he excels,--and looking about
on the well-sheltered spot, have thought of my poor old friend Michael
Kelly's ballad, until I have fancied him "alive again," and breathing
over the folds of his ample cravat,
"And I said, if there's peace to be found in this world,
A heart that is humble might look for it here!"
But there is no peace to be found in this world; so, after indulging a
few wild fancies, that come quickly in such places, I quitted this, as I
have done a hundred other like oases in life's desert, to wander again
about the busy world and jostle with the worldly:
"We feel pangs at parting
From many a spot, where yet we may not loiter."
I did not bid adieu to this, however, before its tranquil and
peace-giving features were impressed for ever upon my memory.
The wooded and well-rounded hills which encircle the garden, are placed
at distances varying from half a mile to half a bow-shot right Sherwood
measure: within this range two buildings only are to be seen; one a
pretty, classic-looking dwelling, nestled under the brow of the hill to
the eastward; the other, sunk low in the extreme western distance, a
rude-looking stone-built water-mill, surrounded by all its healthful and
picturesque appointments; adding to the rustic beauty of the scene, yet
so far removed as in no way to disturb a feeling of absolute seclusion,
if such should be the desire of the possessor of this little domain,
which a moderate sum of money, laid out with good taste, might render
surpassingly beautiful.
I observed that Mr. Pierce kept a few men constantly employed; and as he
is a person of evident intelligence, neither unaware of the value of his
possession, nor deaf to the admiration of his visitors, I trust it may
become worth his while to complete by art what nature has so happily
designed.
Flowers were to be procured here at a season very far advanced, and a
high price was given for bouquets, the procuring which for ladies on the
evening of a ball or party is a common act of gallantry; consequently
there is much rivalry amongst the beaux in gleaning the rarest and most
beautiful flowers.
This is a graceful and pretty fashion, and one not likely to grow out of
use amongst women, which opens a market well worth the florist's notice.
If my voice could reach Mr. Pierce, two things I would seek to press
upon his consideration: the first should be never to suffer himself to
be persuaded to throw a bridge--above all, a wooden one--across that
prettiest of fords; the other, that he would, out of humanity to the
cattle, and out of consideration for the necks of his fair visitors,
make the drive, so called, leading through the wood into the George-town
road, just passable.
Meantime, until this be accomplished, let me caution all future
explorers against venturing the approach by that route. The one by the
race-course, and across the ford, is as good as need be; somewhat steep,
a little difficult here and there, but in no way perilous.
I might have selected spots for detail in this neighbourhood, which in
other eyes may have attractions, though different, quite as powerful;
but this, somehow or other, won strangely upon my fancy, and grew to be
my favourite resort when pursuing my accustomed rides. I paid to it many
visits alone, and in company it became associated with some of the
pleasantest hours I passed here; and thus comes it that the reader is
afforded such an opportunity as a meagre sketch can give, of becoming
acquainted with this secluded spot, once perhaps the summer bower of
some native princely Sagamore, and now the location of Mr. Pierce,
gardener and seedsman!