Year: 1869

In Yorkshire, in the days OF stage
coaches, there was quiet little country
hamlet of some eight or ten houses, one
of which was a wayside tavern where the
coach stopped to change horses, but at
the time referred to the hamlet was des
serted and the tavern gone te decay. The
stage no longer changed horses, but pas
sed through without stopping except to
water The horses at beautiful clear spring
surrounded by verdure, and from which,
strangely enough, no ril issued. On one
occasion while travelling | was struck with
the runious and deserted aspect of the
place, which reminded me strongly of the
desolate and dreary cities Of Argob in
Palestine. The driver, with whom sat
on the box, a merry, laxative fellow, as
stage.drvers usually are, seemed depreso
sed by the dreariness Of the place, and for
while was almost silenced. On enquiry
what could be the cause of SO singular
deserton in so populous country as
England, the driver gave the following
account


Many years ago when l first began to
drive team on this road, this was thriv-
ing little country village, and like most of
the little country hamleta, depended prin.
cipally for IFS support upon the tavern,
and the tavern was kept by widow wo-
man and her three sons.


In those days there was a great deal Of
travelling by private conveyance, the rich





in their own vehicles the middle classes
on horseback, and the poor sort on foot, 80
that country tavern with stage stop
ping there daily, was quite able to support
a small hamlet.


For sometime things went on well and
the tavern was source of some consider
able income to its owners but from some
cause-'tis hard TO say what-the travel
gradually tell off; other taverns became
popular, and at last the stage ceased to
stop there This of course, involved the
desertiou OF the hamlet.


At various times there had been vague
reports of the disappearance OF travellers
on that road, and on one occasion peas
ant declared that he saw traveller enter
the tavern at II late hour of the night and
on his incidentally inquiring for him the
next day, he was assured that no enc
had stopped there the preceding night


The disappearance of the traveller who
was known to have taken that road caused
enquiry 10 be made, and the assertion of
the peasant caused the tavern TO be
searched, but nothing whatever was elic.
tied to throw suspicion on the keepers, nor
did they manifest the slightest unwilling.
ness to have the house searched Strange
tales of faint, bubbling, gurgling cries for
help, as of men being drowned, were rum
ored as being heard the villagers became
afraid to leave their houses after dark.
and the hamlet got bad name.


Whether these reports had anything to
do with the falling off Of the travel on the
road, ! am unable to say but it did fall of,
and, as a natural consequence, the ham,
let was deserted. The keepers, especially
the old woman, were loud in bewailing
the poverty which compelled them to res
main in place accursed Of heaven, but
they seemed to live az well as formerly,
and strangely enough kept bloodhound;
but they declared they had become at.
tached to the animal while they did good
business, and the dog was needed. and
now they were unwilling to part with it,
though they found it difficult to feed.


Things were in this state when a young
man Of wealthy family, having finished his
collegiate course. started across the coun-
try TO reach one Of the seaports, from
which he intended to embark for Paris
on continental tour, as was the custom
Of young men, by way Of a finish to their
education.


Some miles from this hamlet, the horse
Of his servant, boy who had been raised
in the village, cast shoe, and the boy
was directed to take him to the snithy,
have the shoe replaced, and rejoin his
master at the next tavern, which was at
the village, The shoe was replaced, but
10 carelessly that the horse became lame,
and the servant reached the tavern some
time after dark instead Of at noon as the
master expected.


The darkness WAS increased by the sp.
preaching thunder storm, and the moans
Of the rising wind among the deserted cot.