A Visit To The English Lakes.

ful servant . We cannot resist plucking a leaf from the red-berried yew over Wordsworth ' s grave , as a memento of the hallowed spot . Coming back , we take the higher road past " the rustic wishing-gate , " from whence there is a beautiful view of Grasmere . We

" stoop before the favoured scene , At Nature ' s call , nor blush to lean Upon the wishing-gate . " We soon reach our lod gings again , very well satisfied with our . afternoon ' s ramble , and the sound of Stock Gill Force , as it clashes close to our bedroom , does not prevent our going to sleep . In the morning we wake soon after five

, and prepare to ascend Sea Fell ; the weather does not look very favourable , but we are bent on going . We take the road b y the New Church , in which is a memorial window to Wordsworth , and pass the little village of Clappersgate , with the " often varied voice " of the Brathay singing on our left . Soon the lakelet Elterwater comes in sight , with its rustic village and Elter Hall above it . On our right we have Loughrigg—a rugged " beautiful iece of upland "—

p with the tarns at its base , " whose banks in unprofaned nature sleep . " Wordsworth likens it to Lake Nerni , or Speculum Diance , overlooked b y Mount Calvo . We are now in "Little Langdale fair to see , " with Silver How , Wansfell , Langdale Pikes , Pike o' Stickle , Lingmell Fell , and many . other mountains , all towering above us . It commences to rain , and umbrellas , are found useful . We cut our names in the rocks as a sort of pastime , and , strange

to say , they are seen by two of our Hull friends who unexpectedly catch up to us —quite a pleasant rencontre . The valley now narrows considerably , and nothing is to be seen above but mist and clouds ; meanwhile it pours with rain . We ascend the Stake Pass through the long grass , getting drenched with the rain . On reaching the summit , of about two thousand feet elevation , we wade through a sort of marsh , enveloped in the clouds . Soon we gain Longstrath beck ,

where we leave our friends on the way to Keswick . We lunch under difficulties , and then retrace our steps , as it would be worse than useless to attempt the ascent of Sea Fell , all the mountains having put on their " caps . " Going back we meet two Londoners , and by the aid of our invaluable " Jenkinson . " we set them on the ri ght path for Wastdale Head .. A sloppy walk brings us to Dungeon Ghyll Hotel , and we ascend the mountain and see the fall . It is a very pretty one in a dark narrow cleft , ninety feet high , but with very little water . A natural bridge is formed of two stones wedged in at the top , over which we cross , as Wordsworth loved to do .

Into a chasm a mighty block Hath fall ' n and makes a bridge of rock The gulf is deep below , And in a basin , black and small , Eeceives a lofty waterfall . "

We cannot help mentioning- also the weird legend of Coleridge ' s : — " In Langdale Pike and Witch's Lair , And Dungeon Ghyll so foully rent , With ropes of rock and bells of air , Three sinful sextons' ghosts are pent , Who all give back , one after t'other , The death-note to their living brother ; too

And oft , , by their knell offended , Just as then- one ! two' ! three ! is ended , The devil mocks their doleful tale With a merry peal for Borrodaile . "

Leaving " Dungeon Gh yll the gloomy , " we meet two Richmond fellows , who are agreeable companions back to Ambleside , where we arrive about half-past six in the evening , having been out twelve hours . After a substantial tea we M