The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-07-06

audlDle far up the river valley. we
breakfasted in the old Jacobean coffee
room, and then the town seemed with
one accord to go to service. The mayor
and council met at the market house
in their robes of Office, and, with the
mace carried before them by the clerk,
walked to church and sat together in
the state seats The pretty maid who
had served our breakfast FASTENED away
after them, and so did the landlord. So
also did the dissenting anglers with
whom we had breakfasted. and 80 in
turn we wanderers from remote shores
followed them and the rest of the town.
The little surpliced choir boys threw
their youthful spirits into the chants,
and their voices rang most cheerily in
the stone vaults of the tower, while the
large congregation took up their part Of
the service as il they had as much to
do with it as the clergyman. 1t seemed
as if such surroundings would arouse
the dullest preacher, but ours was prob
ably more Injured to the influences of
the old church than we we're. In spite
however, of his wearying platitudes and
dogmas, it was most certainly divine
worship that we joined in on that Sun
day morning; and for all we saw, it was
with all the town folk, and at the only
church.
While we had often heard that Chum-
ley as a family name was spelt Chol-
mondeley, we never expected to be bear
ers of letter with that odd address.
We hated to part with it at the great
gate of country.seat which may stand
as the type of the remembrances that our
journey left with us. From the lodge
sweeping avenue drove up to the fore
court of a grand symmetrical stone
house of the Elizabethan period, with
great ranges of mullioned windows, and
terraced walls, and balustrades of a
semi Italian character. Towards this
entrance side of the house all the halls
and corridors opened; while on the other,
or lawn side, we're ranges of rooms open
ing by mullioned windows to stone ter
races. and to a view over widespread
lawn. The lofty rooms had stone fire.
places, and paneled wainscots, and mod
eled ceilings, somewhat too much "done
up" in modern times, perhaps but still
in good historical character. In the up.
per stories beside the family apartments,
were long ranges of visitors bedrooms,
with little holder on each door for the
occupants card. After we had studied
the interior of the mansion, and after
we had disposed of the grand lady who,
as housekeeper, had done us the honors,
but who was not above receiving the
queens money. we found our way
through the intervening hedge, and
were in the adjoining churchyard with
the old graves and the crosses and the
sun-dial. Like most of the churches we
saw, this was Of late Gothic period. and
within it were many family monuments;
here statue of Britieh officer on his
knees holding aloft the hilt of his sword
as cross; there is recumbent alabas-
ter statue of lovely young wife. The
church is backed by heavy dark trees;
beyond the churchyard gate are the
sparkling white gables of an old oak and
plaster house; while over the moss grown
cottage roof proudly stalked peacock
with tail widespread.
An ancestral mansion with stately
rooms, and lawns and terraces and gar
dens; a cosy farmhouse EMPOWERED in
trees; with the peacock summing himself
on the roof; an ancient village church;
peaceful yew shaded churchyard; the
tombs Of rich and poor for generations;
the sun-dial that has cast it's shadow SO
many quiet centuries; the rich, pleasant
voices Of the few passing Villagers
such are the peaceful memories of our
holiday in England.