Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-02-24
The Late Mrs. Wordsworth-The
Home and Graves of the Words
worth Family.
(From The N. Y. Evening Post ]

we note the death of a venerable relic of
che past generation-the wife of William
Wordsworth, the poet. For many long
years she has resided at Rydal Mount, the
place and home that is so indellibiy assu.
sia.ed with Wordsworth, and where he was
wont to dispense his hospitality to a COM
pany that numbered amid its members
Southey, Coleridge. DR.. Arnold and Pro-
fessor Wilson. Mrs. Wordsworth pres ;ded
at these genial meetings, which were often
held out in the open air, in front of the
house. When Wordsworth died, he was
buried in Grasmere churchyard, and since
that time his widow has lived almost alone
at Rydal Mount, only waiting, as she her.
self often said, for the summon, that would
call her to lie By his side near the old church
at Grasmere.
A more beautiful district than this near
Rydal il would be impossible to tind in all
England. The Lake Poets. so smusingly
stismatized in Noctes Ambrosiane, US
"great brawlng he-Poets," delighted to
live here. Soulhey and Culeridge had their
homes near by, but, though beautiful spots,
they are inferior to Rydal. The house itself
small. and the very ideaI Of an English
cottage, embowered as it is in trees, and
almost covered with rum ing tines-slands
upon an elevation, aad in front is a peculiar
triangular-shaped garden--a sort of prom
ontory about an acre in area--that serves
as a stand point whence to enjoy The be iu-
tiful scenery comprising the vale and vii
lage of Ambleside, with Lake Windermere
in the distance. just discovered between
two sloping mountains. To the left are
several rocky hills, while to the right, on
The other side of the valley, is The shaggy
form of Loughrigg Fell. The house and
grounds stand on slope Of Nab Scar,
which ascends to lofty peak at the rear.
and efieetually shelters the poets home
from the north wind. A few steps in an
other direction leads the vislior 10 a little
standpoint, once faroriie haunt OF Words
worth, whence is obtained charm ing view
of Rydai Water, that beaming, island-doitod
lake that lies in the embrace OF the Jagged
old mountains like some bright jewel in the
rough hand Of brawny giant At certain
times of the year this scene presents the
rarest combination of colors. The hills
often dennded of verGure and forming rocky
precIpices, present curious reddish tint
spotted here and there with purple shades
of heather. RydaI Water reflects in its
clear surface the blue sky, while the Little
islands, covered with deep green grass and
shrubbery, form delightful contrast 10 the
other colors.
Such is the vicinity of Rydal Mount
The interior is simple. The house is res
pectably and comfortably furni. he'd, and fol
the past few years has been occupied BY
Mrs. Wordsw orth and Jew faithful ser
wants. She has near relatives residing il
the immediate vicinity though she was the
mistress of Rydal Mount, and the only on,
OF the family living in the house. Her sons
one of whom, if we mistake not, hives but |
few miles distant, frequently came to visi
her, and vast circle of acquaintance, com
prising the people of the thickly-populate
district o. Ambleside, and friends of he
husband, prevented her from being lon, ly
Strangers who came to the lake district
and their name is legion-risited her house
and called on the cid lady, who receive,
them with courtesy, always exh hibitiDl
special pleasure at receiving such an attsn
ton from an American. Indeed. the call
were so numerous that ef late years sh
was obliged to refuse admission to her houe
10 those not regularly introduced, :houg
tie grounds were always open to visitors
Early every morning she would take strol
Through the garden.
She liked to talk Of her husband and hi
gifted friends, and often referred to he
youthful days, when she was possessed o
considerable personal beauty, and whe
Wordsworth aPos rophised her in the well
known lines:
"SEe was a phantom Of delight,
Wien FIRST she bean.ed a. my sight"
Unto the last she retained her sense:
and took personal interest in the luci
affairs of the neighoorhood, where she ha
spent the greater part Of her life. "Sh
wss," sUys contemporary. 1.-THE one 10 in
quire OF about :he last eagle in the dstrc
The last pair of ravens in any crest of rockt
the lasI cid dalesmsn in any improved spo
the last round 0: the last pcJdlcr anon
hills where the broad white road has suC
ceedcd the green brd'e-path. She knew
ihe district during the period between il
first recognition, through "Gray's Letters,
to its complete publicity in the aye Of rail
ways. She say. perhaps, The best oi it,
But she contributed to modernize AMI in
prove it, though tie idea Of doing 50 proba
bly, never occurred 10 her. There wer
great people before 10 give away Christina
bounties, and spoil their neigbbors as th
established alms-giving of the rich doe
spoil the laboring class, which ought TO b
above that kind of aid. Mrs. Wordswurt
did infinitely more good in her oan va,
and without being nware of it, An examp,
ei comfortable thrift was greater boon I
the people found than money, clothes, mel
or fuel. The Oldest residents bave ion
borne witness that The homes of the neigh
hors have assumed new character of orde
and coinlort, and wholesome economy, sine
the poets family lived at Rydal Mount.
used TO be pleasant sight when Words
worth was eeen in the middle of the hedge
cutting switches for half a dozen children
who were pulling at his slork or gathering