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[Illustration: THE GIRL’S OWN PAPER

VOL. XX.—NO. 1017.]      JUNE 24, 1899.      [PRICE ONE PENNY.]




EARLY MORNING NATURE-STUDY.


[Illustration: MRS. BRIGHTWEN IN HER GARDEN.]

_All rights reserved._]

To a true lover of nature hardly anything can be more thoroughly
enjoyable than a quiet hour spent in some shady spot early on a
summer’s morning, whilst the dew is still upon the flowers, and before
any sounds can be heard except those made by happy birds and insects.

In my garden there is a little dell embowered by trees, where I often
spend an hour or two before breakfast for the special purpose of
enjoying the company of my pet wild creatures.

On one side are five arches, formed possibly some hundreds of years
ago, since the great stones are grey with age and picturesquely
moss-grown and ivy-clad. Young trees, too, are growing here and there
o