The record-union., 1894-10-20

pdI he IepIieu IN moment almost SOL
We'll, sir, tow'd she wat as I would
DO" Here he struck one huge fist into
the palm Of the other hand. "Then the
bit o. land may rot sir, an a. that be
near it. Pll COON back L Lunnonr'
so here was a silent drama l thought,
working its way out Of apparently hope
less conditions to its doubtless as hope
less end.
On leaving Oxford and taking orders
INDUCED, before accepting a living, in a
years rest and travel. In this time some
trItiing incident, or badinage by friends,
recalled the fact that a year or two previ-
GUS, queer old fellow, distant relative
living somewhere among the mountains
OF Cumberland, had made me heir to his
ancient homestead; a stone hut, l pre-
sumed, surrounded by few stony acres
among the Umbrian scars and fells.
Somewhat ashamed OF its insignificance
and repeatedly rallied by my friends as
to the petty nature of the ESTATE" / had
DoylshIy determined to renounce the leg
acy, but as | had never visited the glOri-
GUS Lake District of England, L became
possessed of a sudden impulse to do this,
now that L had an abundance of leisure,
and at the same time secretly inspect my
Insignificant Inheritance
was in London, at my accustomed inn
with a few old OXonian companions
when this resolve was formed. They
seemed TO have clear perception of my
real purpose, and at once assailed me
with jOllying jeers and all manner of
cutting and DOisterous satire
suppose you'll restore your ancestral
halls while you're gone?'' said one Of my
friends soberly.
dig out the moat, repair the draw
bridge, mend the portcullis and plant
anew the family Standard" suddenly
urged another.
Don't forget your friends, now. when
you to lease your shOOtIngsi' insisted
another in the same lofty and exasperat-
ing strain.
In this way they gayIy tormented me
until, to hide my real purpose, | an
nounced that my tour would be in Nor
way, az which they set up such an in
credulous shout and renewed tormenting
banter, that, to eyade their practical
Jokes and merry prosecutions, actually
had Porter Bob take my sparsely luggage
to the Kings Cross Station of the North
Eastern galway, rather than to the Eus-
ton Station, for the North Western. and
compromised myself before them by
booking direct TO Hull, at last seating
myself III a compartment OF the "Flying
Scotsman" train with all the composure
OF Il hardened criminal.
l LETT the "Flying Scotsman at York
and crossed Orkshire and Lancashire to
Wlndermere, in Westmoreland. Then
followed few weeks OF the most pOetical
wanderings any intelligent traveller can
possibly experience. For out Of the
heart OF this glorious region have issued
countless streams OF thought and imag-
cry, flowing so deep and strong and far
that they have penetrated to uttermost
lands, and are as tatherland waters
to all who own the good old Saxon
tongue.
To Ine it seemed that the sweetest and
most encompasslng of all benedictions
was here. The Almighty never elsewhere
fashioned the face Of the earth in more
entrancing mold. And then, as if the fiat
were that added winsomeness and grace
should shine from every feature, lofty
Souled men and women were born here,
or came here, and in the years worshiped
the God through all this transcendent
handIwork by pouring forth the hearts
and souls ia everything psalms.
Thus was the complete magic of this
Umbrian region wrought, until from
Morecambe Bay to Solway Firth, over
against the land of Burns, you can turn
your eyes scarcely upon mountain or
vale, lake or river, crag or tarn, rock or
riYulet forest or cOpse, beck or waterfall,
hamlet or home, that does not send thrill
ing through the vision TO exultant mem
ory some tender association with tender
~
OF tadeless song.
[ wandered OH foot and alone, save for
an occasional rest on the box OF the swift
coaches, filled with gay tourists, which
wake endless echoes OF stirring bugle
notes throughout the enchanted region.
and thus came close to things not set
down in guide books, tales or song; to
things undlscoverable even in the literary
remains of the host Of prose writer's and
poets who drew almost their sole inspira-
ton from this WOndrous lake country,
and to things without which l could not
make clear The lives of the few who have
their place within this simple tale.
l found first that here among the dales
and crags were an isolate, a distinct and
characLerful people. These dalesman are
nearly all =" statesmen" or men owning
and tilling their pieces of land which have
come down to them intact from their fore
fathers who were enfranchised villains
under the ancient feudal lords.
TO this very day, i'll countless instances,
they occupy the very same estates par
celed out 10 their ancestors Tor service in
the border wars by the ancient barons.
They have sustained no encroachment.
They are land proud and house proud
and they are as free as the wild fowl Of
their mountain eeries and as stern as the
everlasting stone about them.
In remote glens and dales you will find
the entire series OF evolutions in habita-
ton, from cell quarrled out of the noun
tain side to the half-modern, heavily
built. rock-tiled Y brian cottage.
Many are so old that affairs and carv-
ings, dug from the Roman wall of Sew
erus, are built into treplaees and parti-
ton walls. Wordsworth observed them
in their wonderfully historic aspect, and
marveled that they appeared to be re-
ceived Into the bosom of the living prin-
ciple of things" so closely do they seem
a part OF the hard hills on which thew
stand.
Precisely as in his time, outside these
stone built Umbrian cottages you will
come beneath the pleasant shade of syca-
mores and always see standing near the
tall hrs through which "the winds sing
when other trees are leafless."
Each has his tiny orchard, whose occu-
pants, gnarled and messy, are grown to
the size of primeval forest trees. An am
pie herb bed is nurtured with the great
est care. Yhere is near rill or spring.
spout with its ceaseies5 musical winnie
and invariably comely garden titled
with the diligence Of those in Holland,
The most comfortable of stone outbuild-
ings, often extending from the main
structure in the olden form of stout in
closure or court, adds something of feudal
picturesqueness to these 'statesmens' fine
old homes, and give perfect winter hous-
ing to the cattle and the diminutive but
hardy mbrian mountain sheep, and no