The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-07-11
Select gtorg.
K wv wE CIR FIT.
A CUMBERLAND TDYL.
From Chambers Journal.
CHAPTER 1.

Somewhat less than halt-a-doZen miles
from Carlisle lies pretty but sleepy little
village, which we shall call Linthwaite.
Far removed from the march of progress,
it reposes in a peaceful slumber unbroken
by the rattle and din of locomotives, and
unmolested by the @kettle O steam" driven
inventions, so dear to agriculturists of the
modern style Save that in summer and
autumn, the whir of the new tangled reap
ng-machine is heard in the meadows and
cornfelds, as it sweeps down broad swaths
of hay and yellow corn-usurping the place
of the sturdy scant-clad husbandman, WELD
ing his keen-edged scythe, and the bands
Of Irishmen, each armed with his trusty
sickle, who formerly invaded the land at
harvest-time-no sound is ever heard there
that might not have broken the silence
fifty years ago. Certainly, now and again,
at times when there is going to be rain, as
the old folks say in their weather wisdom,
the distant sound of a railway engineer S
whistle may be heard borne on the wind,
faint and weird as the plaintive piping of the
plover overhead In his autumn flight; but
then it is 50 intangible as to seem like a
'.wandering voice from far-off country,
with which the good folks of Linthwaite
can have nothing in common.
The young people have most of them, to
be sure, at one time or another ventured
their necks and limbs in a railway train;
but there are those among its older inhab-
itants who have never yet known, and pro-
baby never will enjoy, that dangerous lux
ury. The farmers, with their wives and
daughters, betake themselves to Carlisle
every Saturday to dispose of their farm
produce and make their marketing; and at
less frequent intervals the villagers make
fitful visits to the same place with the lat
ter object, and this constitutes their main
personal intercourse with the outer world.
For the rest, the weekly newspaper sup
plies them with all the information they
require touching markets and crops, politics
for the men, and fashions and gossip for
the women; and so they live their unevent-
.ful lives.
a stones throw from the road that skirts
the village green stands Knowecroft, an
old-fashioned farmhouse, which has been
the patrimony of one generation of Martin
dales after another, time out of mind. At
the period of our story it is occupied by a
widow, her son and daughter. Her hus-
band has been dead some years; but his
place as head of the household is filed by
his son, Joe Martindale, who has now
reached the age of twenty-five, his sister
Ruth being some seven years younger,
It was on bright September morning
that Mrs. Martindale, still a buxom and
active dame, trotted down the orchard and
called to her son, who was experimenting
harvesting operations in an adjoining field:
"Joe, Joe r
CAY, ay, mother. What is it ?"
"Come here; | want the. /"
Obedient to her CALL Joe made his ap-
pearance, ruddy and sunburnt, and mop
ping his brow as he came.
Here's letter fra Ruth, y continued his
mother "She says she's comm back to-
night, an thoo has to meet her at Carel by
the seven o'clock train. [ divvent know
what lasses are meade on nooadays Dis
she think we've nowt to do wild the horses
than to gan rakin' off to the toon wild them
at this teyme, an half the fields to cut
yet?'
aWell, mother rejoined Joe, laughing,
'she must come back some time, and l
don't know that she could come at better
And we won't hinder work either, for I'll
take old Blossom He's good enough for
that yet, and Eli give him his time"
"Wey, daresay thoo'll be able to man
nish wid him." replied Mrs. Martindale;
aand I'll be rect glad to git the lass back
again, onyWay.
TO explain which We may mention that
Miss Ruth had been away from home for
a whole week, to officiate as bridesmaid at
the wedding of cousin in Westmorland;
and her mother had so missed her winsome
face, that, notwithstanding her apparent
reluctance, she would have been glad to get
her daughter back again at the price of a
days work of every horse about the place.
So in good time Joe, having harnessed
Blossom to the dogcart, drove leisurely off
to Carlisle. Joe, as we said, is five-and-
twenty years old, and stands rather over
FIVE feet ten in his stockings; is straight as
a poplar and 1.-THE as willow; slim in build,
but wiry and muscular, as a Cumberland
yeoman should be. In the saddle he rides
like a fox-hunter; on foot, his gait ap-
proaches the martial, as, with square shoul-
ders well thrown back and head erect, he
"looks the whole world in his face His
head is covered with curly brown hair,
cropped short; his face, untouched by razor,
is adorned by whiskers and beard of a
darker shade. FAe general expression of
his face is suggestive of good nature and
merriment; but something in the set of his
lips betokens frmness, and even dogged-
ness of purpose.
A good farmer for his years, and fairly
accomplished in all the sports and pastimes
of the country y-side, he is also possessed of
a taste for literature, and has read more
than most of his class. For this latter
tendency he is probably indebted to the
fact that his education was completed under
the eye of his fathers cousin, who was
vicar of parish in Westmorlaad, and eked
out his scanty stipened there by taking Joe
and one or two other lads to educate along
with his own sons.
CHAPTER III.
After an easy drive, Joe reached the