Loudon Libros

The expansive and beautifully irregular grounds, the deep woods, and the picturesque old trees created an enchanting atmosphere at nearly midnight. Numerous bonfires dotted the landscape, surrounded by a gathering of tenants whose moving forms extended into the darkness. In the foreground, a blind old man, who had devoted his life to the family, played a harp with joyful enthusiasm beneath a sprawling cedar. The trunk and branches, along with his white hair and face, were illuminated by a nearby blaze of pine, giving Arden Park an air of immense magnificence, reminiscent of a sylvan empire. This scene evoked the imaginative feasts of Shells described by the ancient bard Ossian. In the distance, the picturesque ruins of Arden Castle, once the family’s ancestral home, stood on a rocky eminence. Its varied round towers, some intact, and its striking position, along with the trees and river below, were highlighted by the moonlight as it began to set behind the ruins.