Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-05-15

cnamDers. Inen our COOKING arrangements
are primitive, and, as Tim has no idea what
ever in the culinary art, beyond being ableto
boil potatoes in their skins and make very
doubtful 'stirabout' there is a certain want
of variety in our repasts.
StBesides the incon yeniences which have
mentioned, but which were, perhaps, hardly
worth chronicGng, the caravan has social
drawbacks, more particularly embarrassing
to a modest man like myself. tits confusing,
for example, on entering town, or good
sized village, to be surrounded by the entire
juvenile population, who cheer us vociferously,
under the impression that we constitute
Show and afterwars, on ascertalnlng their
mistake, pursue us with opprobrlous Jeers;
and it is distressing to remark that our mode
of life, instead of inviting confidence, causesus
to be regarded with suspicion by the vicar OF
the parish and the local policemen. We are
exposed, moreover, to ebullitions OF bucohc
humor, which have taken the form of horse
play on more than one occasion. lin has
had several fights with the Welsh peasantry,
and has generally come off victorious, though
on one occasion he would have been over
powered by numbers il had not gene to his
assistance. Generally speaking, nothing will
remove from the rural population an idea
that the caravan forms an exhibition of some
sort. When airily alight and stroll through
village, sketchbook in hand, have inva-
riably at my heels q long attendant train OF
all ages, obviously under the impression that
am looking for suitable pitch, and am
going to perform
ssTo avoid these and ST milar Inconvenience
we generally halt for the night in some Sc
Guided spot-some roadside nook or outlying
common. But there is fatal attraction in
the caravan; it seems to draw spectators, as
it were, out Of ths very bowels of the earth
No matter how d,,solate the place we have
chosen, we have scarcely made ourselves
comfortable when En- audience gathers, and
stragglers drop in, amazed and open-mouthed
found it irksome at Sir.st to paint in the open
Fir, with gazing crowd at my back making
audible comments on my work as it pro-
gressed; but soon got used to it, and, hay
ing discovered certain good subjects here
and there among my visitors. I take the pub
Lefty now as a matter Of course. Even when
busy inside l am never astonfshed to see
strange noses fattened against the windows
strange faces pceping in at tho door. The
human temperament accustOms itself to any
thing.
II begin this record in the Island Of Angle
sea, where we have arrived after our fort
nights wanderincs in the more mountainous
districts of the mainland. Anglssea l am in
formed, is chiefly famous for its pigs and
its wild ducks. So far as I have yet explored
it find it flat and desolate enough; but l
have been educated in Irish landscapes, and
don't object to fatness when combined with
desolation. I like these dreary meadows,
these bleak stretches of melancholy moor
land, these wild lakes and lagoons.
CAT tko present moment I am encamped in
spot where in all probability, shall re-
main for days. came upon it quite by &C
cident about midday yesterday, when Gu my
way to the market town of Pencroes; or,
rather, when [ imagined that I was going
thither, while had, in reality, after hesitst-
ing at three crossroads taken the road which
led in exactly the opposite direction. The
way was desolate and dreary beyond meas
ure-stretches of morass and moorland on
every side, occasionally rising into heathery
knobs or hillocss, or strewed with huge
pieces of stones like the moors of Cornwall.
Presently the open moorland ended,
and we entered a. region of sandy
hillocks, sparsely ornamented here and
there with long, harsh grass. If one
could imagine the waves of the ocean, at
some moment of wild agitation, suddenly
frozen to stiffness, and returning intact these
tempestuous forms, it would give some idea
of the hillocks am describing. They rose on
every side of the road, completely shutting
out the view, and their pale, lvid yellow
ness, scarcely relieved with a glimpse of
greenness, was weaTisome and lonely in the
extreme. As we advanced among them, the
road we were pursuing grew worse and
worse, till it became SO choked and covered
with drifted sand as to be scarcely recogniz-
able, and need hardly say that it was hard
work for enc horse to pull the caravan along
eve had proceeded in this manner for
some miles, and I was beginning to realize
the fact that we were out Of our reckoning,
when, suddenly emerging from between two
sandhills, I saw wide stretch Of green mea-
dow land, and beyond it glorifed piece of
water. The sun was shining brightly, the
water sparkled like mirror, calm as glass,
and without breath. As we appeared
large heron rose from the spot on the water
side where he had been standing
Still as stone, without sound,
Above his dim blue shade
and sailed leisurely away. Around the lake,
which was about mile in circumference, the
road ran winding, till it reached the farther
side, where more sandhills began; but be-
tween these sandhills I caught sparkling
glimpse Of more water, and, guided to my
conclusion by the red sail of fishing smack
just glimmering on the horizon line, knew
that farther water was-the sea.
t'The spot had all the attraction Of COM
n&ete desolation, combined with the charm
which always, to my mind, pertains to lakes
and lagoons. Eager as boy or loosened
retriever, [ ran across the meadow and found
the grass long and green and sown with in
Vulnerable crowsfoot flowers; underneath
the green was sand again, but here it glim-
mered like gold dust. AS reached the sedges
on the lake side teal rose, in full summer
plumage, wheeled swiftly round the lake,
then, returning, splashed down boldly and
swan within a stones throw of the shore,
when, peering through the rushes, I caught
glimpse of his matte padding anxiously along
with eight little fluffs of down behind her.
Then, just outside the sedges, saw the golden
shield of water broken by the circles of rising
trout 1t was too much. I fastened back tc
the caravan and informed Tim that had
no intention Of going any farther-that day,
at least.
$50 here we have been since yesterday, and
up to this, have not set eyes upon a single
soul. Such peace and quietness is foretaste
of Paradise As this is the most satisfactory
day have yet spent in my pilgrimage, al
though it bears, at the same time, a family
likeness to the other days of the past fort
night, I purpose setting down, verbatim,
seriatim, and chronologically, the manner in
which occupied myself from dawn to s. n
set.
"6A. M.-Wake, and see that Tim has al
ready disappeared, and fold,ej I'D his ham
mock. Observe the morning sun looking in
with fresh, CHEEKY countenance at the win
dow. Turn over again with q yawn, and go
to sleep for another five minutes.
'T:15 A. M.-Wake again, and discover, by
looking at my watch, that, instead of five
minutes have slept an hour and a quarter.
Spring up at once, and slip on shirt and
trousers; then pass out, barefooted, into the
open air. No sign of Tim, but a fire is
lighted close to the caravan, which shadows
it from the rays of the morning sun. Stroll
down to the lake, and throwing off what
garments wear, prepare for bath. Can
not get out for a swim on account of the
reeds. The bath over, return and finish my