The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-01-17

fectly smooth sea into a perfectly cloud
less sky. and II 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 Its peo
Pile to SEQ them The long cold spring
was over at last: the walltower on the
castle wall was in blossom. the pale prim
roses bad not yet all gone. the lilac was
preparing to throw out Its blossoms. the
cuckoo was abroad. the swallows were
returning with tumultuous rush. rs II
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 rejoic.
ing In the sunshine. and all the living
creatures in wood and field and river were
hurrying dying 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
poacher. much less thief or burglar Wis
ibIe in the whole of Northumberland. and
II 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 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 tie wretches
who had no beds no money and slender
hopes for the next days food slept IN the
hunks and stalls about the market Moth
ing stirred except the hands OF theclnrch
clock. and these moved steadily. thequar
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-6rst 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
une street AT one end of II is the church
and at the other end is the castle The
street runs up hill from church to castle.
10 the year 1854 the castle was more ruin
ons than it showed in later years. because
the keep itself stood rooness. 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 gntted 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; black kberries 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
d small window In the wall constructed
door. built up the broken stones. and con.
stituted himself. withonl asking leave Of
my Lord OF Northumberland. sole tenant
of Warkwortb castle
When the first comers bad 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 tho
clock. they fell to stroking Of stnbby
chins and to wondering when tho barber
would be ready This could not be until
stroke Of o. at least. because be had to
comb dress and powder first the wears
wig for Sunday Heaven forbid that the
church should be put of with anything
short of wig newly combed and newly
surledl And next the wig of his wor.
ship. Cnthbert Carnaby. Esq. justice Of
the peace. aud second cousin to his lord
ship, the Earl Of Northumberland newly