Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/191

Rh parent, he pruned and planted; and with his faithful Eve, morning and evening, saw that it was good; and for it rejoiced, and were thankful to Him who gives and takes away. Every thing flourished under the fostering hands of this worthy pair.

The woods, the walks, the verdant banks, the blooming rose, and twining woodbine, all proclaimed their taste and industry; not a spot in their Paradise but what was noticed and named emblematically. The house and garden, situated on a small plain, are embowered with trees of my friend's planting. In front of the house is a lawn, of an unequal semicircle, at the edge of which is an almost perpendicular rough rocky bank, where deep below rolls the Almond river, more picturesque than can be described, over a wide rocky bed, dashing through its winding way, darkened by high projecting rocks on both sides of it, with wood sprouting from every cliff, and feathering to the roaring stream. On the Leadnock side, upon the lawn, on the rocks, down the rocks, and on every side, are fine trees of every description; particularly those to the left (in appearance impenetrable) towards the old Brig of Almond. To the right is a winding walk to the edge of the rocks hanging over the river; and at the top of a