The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-02-14

X ing AS regards the
coast of Northumber-
land. he sprang with a leap out of per-
fectly smooth sea into a perfectly cloud
less sky. and if there were. as generally
happens. certain fogs mists, clouds and
vapors lying about the moors and fells
among the Cheviots. they were too far
from the town of Warkworth for it's peo-
pie TO see them The long cold spring
was over at last the wallhower on the
castle wall was in blossom; the pale prim-
roses had not yet all gone. the lilac was
preparing to throw out it's blossoms, the
cuckoo was abroad. the swallows were
returning with tumultuous rush, as if
they had had quite enough of the sunny
south and longed again for the battle
ments of the castle and the banks of Co.
quet the woods were full of song: the
nests were full of young birds. chirping
together. partly because they were always
hungry partly because they were rejoc
ing in the sunshine. and all the living
Great ures in wood and field and river were
hurrying flying. creeping. crawling
swimming. running. with intent to eat
each other out of house and home
The eye of the sun fell upon empty
streets and closed houses-not even a
pOacher. much loss thief or burglar Wis
IDLE in the whole Ut northumberland; and
If there might be here and there gyp-
sizes tent. the virtuous toes of the occu-
pants peeped out from beneath the can
vas. with never a thought of snaring
hares or stealing poultry Even in New
castle. which. if you come to think of it,
is pretty well for wickedness. the night
watchmen slept in their boxes lanterns
long since extinguished. and the wretches
who had no beds. no money and slender
hopes for the next days food slept on the
hunks and stalls about the market Moth
ing stirred except the hands of the church
clock. and these moved steadily: the quar-
ters and the hour were struck But for
the clocks the towns might have been so
many cities of the dead. each house a
tomb each bed a silent grave The
Northumbrian folk began to get up-a
little later than usual because it was Sun
day-first in the villages and farm houses,
next in the small towns. last and latest,
in Newcastle, which was ever lie abed
city
Warkworth is quite small town and
great way from Newcastle 1t has only
one street At one end of it is the church
and at the other end is the castle The
street runs up hill from church to castle
10 the year l764 the castle was more ruin
GUS than it showed in later years, because
the keep itself stood roofess, it's stairs
broken and its floors fallen ina great
shell. echoing thunderously with all the
winds. AS for the walls, the ruined gate
ways, the foundations of the chapel. the
yawning vaults and the Quilted towers,
they have always been the same since the
destruction of the place The wall flow
ers and long grasses grew upon the broken
battlements. blackberries and elder bushes
occupied the moat; the boys climbed up
to perilous places by fragments of broken
steps, the swallows flew about the lofty
keep. the green woods hung upon the
slopes above the river. and the winding
Coquet rolled around the hill on which
the castle stood-a solitary and deserted
place Yet in the evening there was one
corner in which the light of fire could
always be seen 1t came from chamber
beside the great gateway-that which
looks upon the meadows to the south
Here lived the fugleman He had fitted
b small window in the wall, constructed a
door. built up the broken Stones and con-
stituted himself. without asking leave of
my Lord of Northumberland. sole tenant
of Warkworth castle
When the first corners had looked up
the street and down the street. straight
through and across the other, and exam
ined the sky and inspected the horizon,
and obtained all possible information
about the weather. they gave each other
the good morning. and asked for opinions
on the subject of hay Then one by one
they went back to their houses-which
are of stone. having very small windows
with bulls eye glass in leaden easements.
and red tiled roofs.
After breakfast. for two hours by the
clock. they fell to stroking of stubby
chins and to wondering when the barber
would be ready This could not be until
stroke Of g. at least. because he had to
comb dress and powder first the wears
wig for Sunday Heaven forbid that the
church should be put off with anything
short of wig newly combed and newly
curledl And next the wig of his wor-
ship, Cuthbert Carnaby. ESQ.,. justice of
the peace. and second cousin to his lord
ship, the Earl of Northumberland. newlv
succeeoeu TO the title when this was
done the barber addressed himself to the
chins and cheeks of the townsfolk. and
this with such dexterity and dispatch
that before the church bell began be had
them all dispatched and turned off And
then their countenances were glorious,
and shone in the sun like unto the face
of a mirror and felt as smooth to the en-
amored finger as the chin and cheek of
maid Thus does art improve and cor
rect nature The savage who weareth
beard knows not this delight.
1t was day on which something out Of
the common was TO happen. day on
which expectation was on tiptoe; and
when at To O'CLOCK the first stroke Of the
church bell began all the boys with one
and the same design turned their steps
slowly at FIRST. and as if the business did
not greatly matter yet should be seen
into-toward the churchyard They were
all in Sunday best. their hair smooth
their hands white, their shoes brushed
and their stockings clean. they moved as
If drawn by invisible ropes; as if they
could not choose but go, and whereas on
ordinary Sundays not a lad among them
all entered the church till the very last
toll of the bell on this day they made
straight for the porch at the first. and this
although they knew that If they once set
foot within it, they must pass straight on