In one or two places by the side of this beck, and beneath the shadow of lofty oaks, may be found boulder stones, grey and moss-covered.

Birds make hiding-places for themselves in these oak and hazel bushes by the stream.

Following it up, we find it receives, at a tiny ford, the tribute of another stream from the north-west, and comes down between the adjacent hills (well wooded to the summit) from meadows of short-cropped grass, and to these from the open moorland, where it takes its rise.

Every conceivable variety of beauty of sound and sight in streamlet life is found as we follow the course of this Town Beck.

We owe much of Wordsworth's intimate acquaintance with streamlet beauty to it." Compare 'The Fountain' in detail with this passage in 'The Prelude' .-- Ed.] [Footnote P: So it is in the editions of 1850 and 1857; but it should evidently be "nor, dear Friend!"-- Ed.] [Footnote Q: The ash tree is gone, but there is no doubt as to the place where it grew.