summer noon
The garden of Eden , the murder of Cain , the deluge , the salvation of Noah , the exodus from Egypt , David and Bathsheba , with the murder of Uriah , the Assyrian invasion , the Incarnation , the Atonement , and the Resurrection from the Dead ; to say nothing of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire , the tragedy of Count Cenci , the execution of Mary Queen of Scots , the Inquisition in Spain , and Revolt of the Netherlands , all happened in Cowfold , as well as elsewhere , and were perhaps more interesting there because they could be studied in detail and the records were authentic . Church Street , Cowfold -- that is to say , the street in which the church stood -- was tolerably broad going east and west , so that the sun shone full on the white window-frames and red brick of Mr. Muston 's house , in which everything seemed to sleep in eternal calm . On the opposite side was the seminary , also red brick and white paint , facing the north ; but , to make amends , the garden had a southern aspect , and the back of the house was covered with a huge magnolia whose edges curled round to the western side , so that it could be seen by wayfarers . It was a sight not to be forgotten -- the red brick , the white paint , the July sun ; the magnolia leaves , the flanking elms on the east high above the chimneys , the glimpse of the acre of lawn through the great gates when they happened to be open , the peace , so profound , of summer noon ! How lovely it looks as it hovers unsteadily before the eye , seen through the transfiguring haze of so many years ! It was really , there is no doubt about it , handsomer than the stuccoed villa which stares at us over the way ; but yet , if Cowfold Church Street , red brick , white paint , elms , lawn , and midsummer repose could be restored at the present moment , would it be exactly what the vision of it is ? What is this magic gift which even for the humblest of us paints and frames these enchanting pictures ?