, 1875-02-28
The Home Of John Bunyan
and John Howard.
Good Mayor Welldone and His
Worthy Progeny.
The Loye-S;ckncss Of H1ary Good
enough, and Love. Re-
Varded.
E-tft7, foy The Chicago Tribune.

LII
walked down the long street on which the p11n-
cipal part Of tho old town stands to our hostler,
where VIC made the most OF the generous fafe OF
our venerable host, who receiVod us much atsof
the ordar of the good old days OF his fathers who
kept tho inn before him. At first the busy ap-
pearance OF everything around us and the smart
ness of the chops (storcs) gave tho idea OF
large city; but the scenery, soon became more
and more OF rural character as We got among
tho tall poplars that skirt the lees densely occu-
pied streets. Whether it be that the soil is Pc
culiary adapted to this tree, that eome latent
yiytae il supposod 10 DO inherent therein, it Is
certain that wherever you go. in or near this
ancient municipality, the poplar in its greatest
height and perfection is suro to present itself 70
the view.
ia situated On the River Ouse, clear aud beautl-
ful stream. which is, however, 80 tortuous that
from theuee to the Sea it winds = distance Of
nearly SO miles; uhilo that conventional follower
Of the rectlneaz, the crow, in his flight, would
get into salt water after course Of but miles
on tho wing The finest view Of this quaint and
picturesque locality is to DO had from the ceme-
tery on Fostar Hill nud as the walk thither
il by no means long, and the way richly inter
sparaed with buildings and objects OF interest to
the Intelligent tourist, it u strongly recommend
ed to intending visitors. There are, in all, five
parish churches here, and their antiquity and pic
turesoueuess cannot but arrest any attentive
observation. Tie old bridge was removed early
in the present century, and with it disappeared
the ancient gaol in which John Bunyan was con-
fined. and where he maintained himself by the
manufacture OF his tag laces- This WIS the
.sdeu" in which he "drea1ned hiB dream,
WHENCE Christian and Greatheart and Hopefu!
set out on pilgrimage, whose history will re-
man green while literature Iasts- With
TIE GREAT A1LEGoRIsT
full in our minds We set out for the nelghborlng
Village OF Elstow, the birthplace OF Bunyan and
tho scene of his early days. The cottage in
which he WIS born has faded entirely out OF
sight, not trace OF il being left but the spot OF
| hard by, stnnds tho OH church in which, as
youth, 1o had often performed the duty OF r1ng-
inc tie bells should rather have sald OF which
| ha rapg the bells, for the to#er stands apart
from tile church itsef, and in it's massive pyra-
| u1iiial form, presents quite as imposing m ap-
| pearauoe asfhe o:her. It was from this tower
that Bupyan sometimes fed aTay in dread,
when conscience the most Rtung hun Tor bis
| sins, less it should fall and crush hIm and he
tolls US how he envfed those OF his comraaes at
| sucn times who fearlessy pealed the bells in
which duty he 30 much longed to join, but from
which be Bl1rank AFRAID
Tho tower is OF such solid uasonry that the
| two centuries which have passed away SINCE
| Bunyan's time seem to have addod nothing 70
its age, nor contributed aught.to its decay. The
| old troo in the churchyard under which sat the
| yeuerable woman who rebukaa young Bunyan aB
the greatest scapegrnce IN the parish, and whose
| rabuke he tells us, t'entered into his soul and
claye bis conscienoe,' still stands; but, though
| tho woodman has spared it the ine1orahe scythe
| Of Time seems likely soon to gather It IN. for 1t
| wps known IS m old troo oven In Bunyans day
| Within an easy walk from Bedford lies CnrdinT-
ton, pretty village famous as having Deem the
birthplace and long, time residence OF
| JOHN HOWARD, THE PH1LANTHRop1sr.
| Herr lie inherited his estate, and hithar ho re-
tired after the death Of his first wife, and his re-
| tnrn frou, his Lisbon expedition Eud his impris-
comment in Trance, to enjoy himself IN quiet ano
revive tho associations OF bis younger days.
| Horn be planned whatever he thought most use
| full aud beneficial, not only for his immediate
| tenantry but for the GODS and daughters OF tho
soil at large. From Cardington he set out, AFTER
| q second domestic aflction which almoat
weighed him down to tho ground, on thet glo-
| rious mission which he was 80 thoroughly quail
| tied to undertake, and In which he lahofed with
! . SUCCESS which is this day acknowledged
throughout Chrlstendonn- He visited Cardlng-
strangely characterized Ills useful life, but when
he went thoro for tho last time, previous to that
tour from which be mover Was to return, 1t Was
| to bid farewell to ali that ho had so long loved.
He knew that much more OF l1e could not oe
| bofc1e him, and ho prepared himself Tor the OK
igency. In lis will he provided for the prosper
ity of the objects Of his care. bequeathed large
share Of his property to the poor OF hls neaEh-
borhood, and made perpetual provision Tor
tho education OF the villagerB- His parting from
the lumblest Of his friends was as tho parting Of
| q father from his children. He Ind the strongest
prcsentiment TINT he should not 20 permitted
to return and lay his bones in his native land, +"
yet he went forth to his Work, into whatoVer
49, vnn&n inn
| might expose him.
In midsummer Of the year 1889, but ittle less
| than century ago, he quilted bis native Land,
| to which he never again returned. Within sl1
months after his departure he caught an infec-
ton at the bedside OF o patient yEnnm his
| humanity induced him to visit, and IN . few
| days tho great philauthropist MAS no more:
.'Lot no monument or monumental inscription,
Raid he with bis dying breath, be matte to mark
| whore AM lad ; but lay me quietly in the carsa.
plaza sun-dial on my grave. and les i q faf-
gotten" His body lies in Russian H. = oat
his far1e occupies tho wholo civilized "v4ld.
| HOWARD AND BUNfAH!
These names are surely honor enough Tor BED
point OF view, yet bound together not oaly IN
locality but il that touch Of nature which makes
tho whole world akin. !
But have something else to say Of Bedford,
and, Ms may not soon raviait It, may rs well
| unburden nyself Of it before this b1ief sketch
| is brought to close It ie Of her
| GOOD MAYOR, WELLDoNE,
and his worthy progeny, I wish to Say word
| This WAS the successful boy Vho unlike Wh!t-
| tington, left London to seek his fortunes He
| heard no Highgate bells calling him to Bedford,
but tnlther he turned, wiIsting as ne went Tor
| want Of thought. Tho crowded city On the
Thames Ind given him b,rth, and that Was all he
kneW Of his ancestry, for
other parcnt never on him smiled.
Arrived tt Bedford, he found employment, by
1 v3>nfft c1,A hn