The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-04-03
TALES OF THE BORDERS.
THE COUNTESS OF wIsToNBURY.
sr ALK1AErER CAMPBELL

In the summer Of 1886, had occasion 70
make journey into Wiltshire, II England
A the business that called me there, sltho'
Of sufficient importance TO me, would hav-
no interest whatever for the reader | will
readily be excused, | dare say, from saying
Of what nature that business was. It will
concern bin, from its connection with the
sequel, to baow that ry residence, while in
England, va in a certain beautiful little vii
lage at the southern extremity Of the SHIRE
above named, and that mir host, during my
stay there. was the worthv landlord Of the
W bite Hart Inn, as intelligent and well-in.
formed man as It has often been my good
fortune to meet with. The nature Of th@
business which made nse a guest Of Michael
J9nos, left me a great deal more time than
knew well what to d. with. Ii hung hea-
Wy upon 10y hands and ny good host, per-
celvlng this, suggested = little excursion,
which, be said lie thought wouli dispose o.
one day, at any rate, agreeahly enough.
81 would re commend you, sir" he said,
"to paw a visit 20 Oxton Hall, the seat OF
the Earl of Wistonbury. Il j. ore Of the
finest residences in England and, as the
family are not there Just now, you may see
the whole house, both INSIDE and outside. II
Tou think Of il, will give you a line to the
butler, very old friend Of mine, and be
will be glad 10 show YOU sll that's worth see
ny about the place
Show far distant il il ~ inquired.
"Oh. not mola ti.an three miles aud a,
half-httle more than an hours easy wals
replied nine host.
"ExcelIentl ~ said I; "ihank you for the
hint, landlord. Let me have the inlroduc.
ton TO the butter yJu spoke about, and III
set of directly"
In less than five minutes, card, address
ed to MIR. John Grafton, butler, Oxton Hall,
was put into my hands, aud IN t~o minutes
more was on ms way to the ancient seat
Of the Earls Of Wstonbury The directions
given ne as to my route, carefully noted on
ny parI, brought me, IN little more than an
hour. 70 spacious and noble gateway, Sc
cured by q magnificent gate Of csst-irOn.
This al once recognized, from the dsscrip-
ton given me by Mr.. Jones', to be the prin-
cipal entrance to Oxton Hall. Satisfied that
1t was so, | unbesitatingly entered and the
house Of one Of the proudest Of England
ATistocrscy stood before me IN all its loTdly
magniicence. A srscs1us lawn, of the
brightest and most beautiful verdure, dotted
/ over with noble oaks, and tenanted by some
scores Of iallow deer, stretched far and wide
on every side. In the centre Of this splen
did psrk-such park IS England alone car
@xhibit-arose the ma nsion house, an an
cieRt and stately pile, Of great extent anc
lofty structure.
! Having found the person to whose civil
I ties was recommended by mine host Of TIA,
White Hart-a mild and pleasant-lookins
old man, OF about seventy years Of age
put my credentials into bis hands. Or
reading it, the old man looked at me smi
lingly, and said that Re would have muct
pleasure in obhglng his good friend, Mr.
Jones, BY showing me all that was wortl
seeing, both IN and about the house; anC
many things both curious and r--e, and,
may add, both costly and splendid. did So
ere another ~sd passed away but fearing
the readers patience would scarcely st&n'
the trial Of . description Of them, | reiraiI
from the experiment, and proceed TO say
that, just as our survey of the house wa
concluded, my ciceT0ne, as if suddenly re
collecting himself, said
"By-tne-by, sir, perhaps you would lk
TO see the picture gallery, although it /
hardly worth seeing just now-most Of tn
pictures having been removed to our hous
iu Grosvenor Square lsst winter; ard, btin
in this denuded state, ne think Of shsz
ing it to visitors. There are, however,
few portraits Of different members Of th
family still eft, and these you may see
YOU have any curiosity regarding them"
Such curiosity avowed felt, and VI
/ l.. l..
a number Of tie pictorial ancestry Of the |
lus;rious house Of Wistonbury. The grea
er part Of the pictures mad been removed
as nv conductor had informed me; but
: lew sull remained scattered along the loft
walls OF the gallery.
THAT" said nay cicerone, pointing to
grim warrior, clad from 1ead to heel in
! Danoply Of steel.-''ihat is Henry, the fir
Alrl Of Wistonbury, who fell in Palestir
during the holy wars; and this" drectir
my attention to another picture, sis Il
grandfather of the present Earl"
"a very handsore and plessant-ivok; Il
young man. safe |, struck with the forclb
representation Of these qualities which Il
painting exhibited
"Ay," replied the old man, "and a. got
as he was handsome. He Is the pride OF h
house; and the country around yet rim
With his name, associated with all that
kind and charitablen
"And who is this lovely creature p 50
], now pointing, in my turn. to the portrl
I Of young female Of the most exquisi
b, b,auty-the face strikingiy resemble sor
Of The Jest executed hkenesses Of the unls
tnnate Queen Mary which hung beside d
Of the Good Earl Of Wirtonbury, Is the n