Summer at the Lake of Monteith

T/ie Lake of Monteith.
ourselves; and we look around us on the prettiest of all
country stations. We gaze on the flowers and the green
fields, with the dark blue hills beyond,
" Lending enchantment to the view."
The dark green woods at our side are loud with the din
of birds, as they pour forth their morning songs of praise.
Happy native! — let him "bless his stars." Away from the
din and turmoil of the city, he roams a free subject of the
woods and fields! Here nothing disturbs the quiet serenity
of Nature, save the thundering of the " iron horse," or the
wild whistle of the locomotive. We pass on our way to
the Port, where the road is beautiful and every foot is
classic. Half- a -mile from the station we pass the old
bridge of Cardross, famous in prophecy and tradition.
Near to it is the place where Rob Roy crossed the Forth
with his stolen steed, when pursued by a troop of dragoons.
Near to it, also, in days of yore, stood the "Ferry Inns,"
in which Prince Charles Stuart refreshed himself, or, as
some say, slept a night, when on a visit to Buchanan of
Arnprior. Near to it, also, is the gentle flowing spring
of the once far-famed " Gout Well of Cardross." On the
left hand side of the road there is a considerable knoll,
from the top of which we have a beautiful view of the sur-
rounding country. We see the Forth roll on in queenly
pride, while on her downy banks graze the sober cattle. We
pass the Lodge of Cardross, and, farther on, the hamlet of
Dykehead, which boasts of a school, a smithy, and Wright's
shop. Children are playing at the school-door, the joiner
grating away at his bench, while the clank of the smith's