Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1902-04-03
CHAPTER /.

About two years ago iaccepted cur.
acy In tho village OF Timperley, within
few miles OF large Lancashire town.
II I had had much choice would not
have chosen a cure OF souls among mill
hands and miners. | would have pre-.
ferred TO perform my duties under a
clear sky, rather than under a canopy
of smoke; within call Of helda and
woods. rather than Ina forest Of tall
chimneya and black heads Of coal pite.
But since l vas disappointed In my
hope Of cure In a certain pleasant viii
lage OF Sussex, l resolved to 60 10 Tim
perIey Ia, Lancashire. So when one
dark afternoon of February l alighted
at the nearest station on branch rail-
way, and asked fellow passenger who
looked like native, and who was hurry
Ing away, whether no could direct me
10 Timperley--when was answered
with q curt "Noa, was not discon-
certed. I received a somewhat unin.
telliglble direction from a station por.
ter, and leaving orders concerning my
luggage, went out Into the'dark and
the drixale 10 walk to Timperley.
tramped for half mile or so along
q we'll paved road, and then according
to direction, thought) turned down
q narrow lane between hedge and a
wooden fence. / trudged some distance
through deep mud, now stumbling upon
Jumps on the firm edge of the Cartsay,
and now plunging into holes, when the
lane seemed to lose itself in field !
hesitated little and then resolved to
return to the road. My eyes were now
used to the dark, and perceived a
foot. path across the field inclining
back toward the road. struck into
this, thinking It would save me some
distance. But / soon found to my
vexation that "the shortest way arcoss
is the longest way round" perse-
vered over the sodden grass, and some-
times somthing else besides grass, and
presently began to scent somewhat Of
the pleasant odors of rusticity, and my
spirits rose degree or two. passed
low black wooden building, and
guessed II was cow house; I heard
the animals pulling at their chains and
munohing their food. By'and-by
found myself again on tolerably good
road, came upon some houses Of the
Z suburban semi-detached villa, descrip.
tion Cat one OF which / knocked and
inquired my way), and soon, stumbling
and splashing through exasperatinp
mud and cinders, came out upon the
edge Of the valley in which Timperley
lay.
| stood and gazed around me. Such
q spectacle / had never seen before.
listened 70 and felt the feverish rush Of
the life Of Lancashire industry. The
birf aud buzz of thousands Of spihdles,
the swift click and thud Of shuttle and
loom, and the regular sob and respira.
ton of mighty enginesFmingled with
the rush Of water and. the plaintive
painting OF some machine as Of an en-.
shaved geni Of the Arabian Nights. !
could not at first ,apportion the. sounds
to the various groups Of buildings be-
meath me. On my right. was Q many
atoFied mill, whose bright windows
( were refieoted'in the glassy surface of a
pond, on. the banks Of which there
grew, pehsive and iorlorn, few scrubby
trees. On my left an, aggregation oi
long low buildings with glass roofs,
that looked with their shining backs
like monstrous,, eronohing- dragons ol
antediluvian days. Farther up the val.
ley was another group Of buildings
wrapped in q cloud sof steam. Tmme-
diately before me was a ruined mill,
.Gnroofed and gauntf with its bell tower
and. Its tall; cold chimney outlined
against the sky; behind II was another
group Of irregular buildings. A dozen
tall Chimneys poured their smoke into
the 'sulphurous air, which~was pervaded
by certain glow--insufficient to dis
sipats the darkness, hutenough TO make
the stream which wound down the val
ley gIsam like a black gigantic, snake.
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