The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-05
An Ancient Charity.
THE STORY OF An ENGLISH MONASTERY AND
ITS MODERN UsEs.

THE STORY OF An ENGLISH MONASTERY AND
ITS MODERN USES.
miss Florence Kelley in the National Tribune.I
From hill near Hereford there is an en-
chanting view OF the valley OF the Wye and
OF Hereford. Descending the bill and re-
turning towards the Green-Dragon Inn,
we passed an ancient-looking stone wall
broken bv wide arch, through which
a garden might be seen, shut i'll beyond by
ruined walls. This was an unexpected VS.
ion. and we walked under the entrance
arch, crossed stone-payed courtyard sur
rounded by twO-storied stone buildings,
passed another archway and stood in neat
garden where peas and beans in orderly
array were bordered by rows OF lark
spur and notwithstanding rose-trees. AT
the end OF the garden were broken arches
and wide reaches OF solid masonry, man
tied with ivy so rich and massive that II
seemed burden to the ancient walls.
Presently an old man Joined us-a straight,
slender, soldierly, seli-respecting old man
who led us about the garden to get the best
points OF view for the ruins. This had been
an austere iriars' monastery, he said, down
to the reign of Henry VIII. Then, at the
dissolution Of the monasterles, the Ming
gave the friars' property to one Edmund
and his wife, Brilppa.
Being kind souls and grateful TO heaven
for their kind fortune in becoming heirs
10 the rich friars, this Edmund and Philip
pa renewed under the shadow OF the ruined
NOR astery twelve tiny cottages and one
small chapel, all under one roof and flank
ing square court. The friars, who fol-
lowed the knights in the possession OF the
place, maintained the charity; Edmund
and his Philippa renewed 1t in their turn !;
now their heirs are faithful to the trust.
Each cottage has two little rooms, one
above another, and the chaplain performs
service in the little chapel. which bears In
| terror decorations in the form OF the arms
OF the knights and OF the family who have
maintained the little colony since the Re-
| formation.
Their lives in this world are already
| lived when they come TO yegetate through
their remaining monotonous days IN his
little pasture. The only counsel they need
from him is in preparation for the next
| life, concerning which, perhaps, his know
ledge Is not more definite than their own.
| There are no weddings here, no christen-
| ings. no confrmations-only the end Of
| life, and the simple duty OF peaceful living
and grateful remembrance OF the dead Ed
mund and Philippa. To one Of the old
soldiers is entrusted little share OF re-
sponsibility for reporting illness or death
among the colony, and seeing that attend
ance at chapel is regular and punctual
among all such as are well, and he receives
the title OF corporal and trihing addition
to his weekly allowance.
Our old man is the present corporal.
being " the Oldest in his sound mind among
'em ALL" The inhabitants live to great
age-"mostly over ninety; sometimes to
hundred and their wives sometimes sur.
vive them. But this is great sorrow, for
the poor old women must 20 to the work.
house then. They are admitted to the
colony only as unavoidable APPENDICES
TO their husbands, and have no personal
claim upon the charity. Hence they must
not occupy cottage which the hus-
bands death has left vacant for some
other aged couple. Ii was fine crisp au-
tumn afternoon when we watched the gol-
den sunlight fade from the UNCOVERED
ruins. looked into the chapel, which is
undergoing simple, sensible restoration,
peeped into the now abandoned common
kitchen, caught glimpse OF an old soldier
reading aloud TO his old wife In their tiny
living room, with the simple preparations
fortheir evening meal, all made In readiness
for the common sun-dial TO register 0, and
drove away rich In the blessings OF the
cOrDoral