Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-05-16
AUNT SUES PANIC.

Ihe most beautiful spot IN England
is Clovelly, in North Devon, made
familiar to every reader by Kingsley's
Westward Ho." The view afforded
from the village is not extensive, but it
includes almost every element of natu-
raj beauty. On the west, the sea, down
to which it's single street aescends SO
steeply that no wheeled conveyance,
nor horses hoofs, may traverse it and
q small but strongly built harbor, where
the fishing boats toss and tumble, or
lie stranded on their sides, according
as the tide is in or out. On the north
and east, "wood overhanging wood,
like cloud on cloud" and crowding to
the cliff-tops, against whose bases the
Atlantic wave forever beats and foams.
Nothing but these obiects-which for
beauty, indeed, are all-sufficient-ar
to be seen by those who sojourn in
Clovelly-these and little strip of sky.
The houses are too near their opposite
neighbors to admit of more extensive
vision. A noble park, however, stretch
es to southwark; and beyond it, head
land after headland, till the last of
England's soil yields to the sea, and
the knowledge of their proximity seems
to fill up the measure of delight to those
who gaze and gloat upon the present
treasures. 1t is fair here, SURPRISING
fair, but would be fair there also.
There is no apprehension of overstep-
ping the barrier of home beauties, and
coming upon anything barren.
The houses in the little town are
themselves most picturesque and pleas
ant-to the eye at least; and each of
them. if not from porch or window,
still from some crack or Granny familiar
to it's inmates, commands the fields in
which all tenants of the place are labor
ers-the'ocean. Whatever little coigne
and vantage ground of space there is
beyond what is occupied by their dwell
lings and the narrow street, is filled
with flowers; but in the centre of the
village, at the beginning of the winding
steps that leads down to the harbor,
there is avacant spot, in which is placed
long low seat, where all that have
toiled up the steps may stop and rest !;
and where in the calm ewes, when toll
ID oOACS I1Cl COLuO uuO bll, WIllO buO
moon mounts the sky, and pours her
splendor over wood and wave.
The village dwellings are of the
humblest kind; and even the little inn
which lords it over them, as being twice
the size of any of its neighbors, is such
as the fashionable or even commercial
traveller may deem but o sorry resting
place to others, however, Of more
imaginative type, it will afford richer
accommodation than many so-called
"hotel." Its little rooms are furnished
with rare china and curious ornaments,
"picked up" by the Clovelly men,
,(who are all sailors), in many a distant
land and it's fare, if plain, is of the
best-the thickest cream, the freshest
eggs, fish straight from the net, and
such store of jams, home made, as
makes the mouth water with the re-
membrance of them.
And yet in this earthly paradise the
trail OF the serpent is over all, in GER
tain "ancient tish-like smell" " which
pervades the whole lovely scene, and
distracts ones thoughts from it's mar
velous beauty. The ocean breeze itself,
as it comes up the woody cleft, is often
tainted by it, and by the time it reaches
one, speaks of the tinny denizens of the
painless deep rather than of its cavern.
Gus cells. When there is no breeze,
and the MONDAY sun beats down on the
quaint village-which, Notwithstanding
it's narrowness and the shades of the en-
vironing woods, it does with pitiless
force-the case is greatly worse. The
unhappy visitor likens himself to one
in hot-bed, and hot-bed of no very
savory materials.
"Good Heavens ~ said I to my
nephew Frank Hotham, the artist. as
we sat together at the window of the
little inn, during such a MONDAY as j
have described, glutting the eye with @
noble feast, but much at the expense oi
our olfactory organs" Good Heavens
suppose any epidemic was to break out
in this Eden here, not soul would
escape it !"
1t was said without reflection, fol
Frank had his young wife and only
child with him ; whereas /, an old maiG
with no ties" had but my own safety
to look to and directly had uttered
the remark, regretted it.
"By Jove y said he, with suddeI
nervousness, never thought of that
Aunt Sue and there's not doctor
within Eve miles, am told. Not tha
q doctor would avail one much, shut III
iii this cloven ravine without q breatl
OF air. And there's smallpox about
too-isn't therep'
L hastened to say that I had nevel
heard as much, as indeed / had not. /
Frank had done so, the news had prob