The Lamar register., 1897-12-04

cred over to the
mercies of the hotel keeper and the
mining company. says the London
Chronicle At present Shepherdland.
as Mr.. Ruskin chirstened the fells and
dales near Brentwood, is little known
to the ordinary tourist. who keeps to
the main roads. and its hardy sons.
who earn their living either by sheep
farming or slate quarrying, still pos
sess those virtues of seif-reliance. an
ceasing industry and sturdy independ-
ence characteristic OF all mountain
eers. reserved race, like all north
erners. and by no means inclined to re-
spond promptly to every casual greet
ing. travellers from the more ELUSIVE
south who have strayed among them
have often gone away complaining Of
their rudeness and moroseness. And
yet by no race is such condemnation
less deserved. as all those who have
penetrated within those bare. stern
looking. gray stone farm houses and
enjoyed the hospitality and confidence
OF their owners will agree, and GER
tainly nowhere In England do better
housewives exist than those who bear
sway in the fell far1as and skaters cot
tages of the two Langdales.
The farmhouses themselves are built
OF the waste" OF the green slate quar-
rles and are straight walled, unorna-
mented structures set in the most shell
tered places in the fell foot, their
chief characteristic being the deep
en-, or house place" into which it
opens, from the driving wind and
heavy winter snow. The cottages, al
so built of waste" are generally plas-
tered. and show as brilliant and pleas
ing patches OF dazzling white against
the dun purple of the fellside heather
and thin bushes. Occasionally the
porch will be gay in summer with the
vivid scarlet tropaeolum. the most ca
PRECIOUS OF plants, which will cover a
wayside cottage window with a cur
tain OF glowing color and absolutely
refuse to put forth a single bud in some
well kept garden to which its kobold
mind has taken exception.
Within both farmhouses and cottage
are alike in two particulars-their
spotless cleanliness and the beauty and
appropriateness OF their furniture.
That healthy pride in ones goods and
chattels which the cheap. bad furni-
ture, miserable. jerry-built cottages
and frequent moves necessitated by the
exigencies of the labor market have al
most destroyed among the southern la
borers.still exists in all its old strength
in the hearts Of the shepherds wives
OF the north. Indeed. such is the
value set upon furniture and the pride
with which II is.cherished that within
the last thirty years both children and
servants stood to their meals lest the
treasured chairs should suffer from
scratches made on their rails by care
less feet. the result being that no
home in England can show more pic
turesque interior than that seen
through the open porch of lakeland
farmhouse.
Hours are very long in the north, for
work at the quarries begins at 6, and
a house must be astir by If its mas
ter be either slater or farmer, though
the mistress will often be found stiIl
busy over mending or ironing as late
as IL at night. The children, too, must
be started on their way 10 school by
1880 at latest, and mEfy whose homes
lie still farther from the schoolhouse
come still earlihr. When all have
been safely Sc. on their way house