Year: 1862

AEC Ru1uCu CIldpCl.


About mile and a half from Castleton, the
metropolis of the Isle of Man, there is a bav.
with small hamlet aud pier in it, called
Derby Haven. l walked to it lately, one fine
afternoon, from Castleton. My way lay along
the coast over the turf which fringed the
beach, and which goes by the name OF the
race>course. Whatever this might have been,
it is now so broken-up and bumpy that a race
on it now would be steeple chase. 1t was a
lovely day; the wind had dropped, and could
hear distinctly the shril clatter of parcel OF
gulls, which were walking about the edge OF
the water where the low tide had left long
streaks of fiat, wet sand. The harbor is forms
ed by an island, now approached by narrow
artificial causeway. Towards the sea this is
edged with sharp rocks whose strata is turned
inside like teetll-sure to hold fast any il-fated
ship which they once touched


There are only two buildings on the island
one circular, deserted fort, built by an Earl
of Derby to help the cause of the Stuarts, but
long since unused, at least for the purpose of
defence or refuge. 1t is squat circular and
upright One small turret has been built on
the wall for the purpose Of showing light by
night and white mark by day to vessels en-.
tering the harbor. This gives the fort prick
cared appearance, and makes it look like a
Cheshire cheese with a pepper-caster standing
on it. The other of the two buildings on the
island is not only deserted, but in ruins 1t
was Roman Catholic Chapel, and the ground
around it is still used as burying place for
the Romanists. The roof of the building has
fallen in, and nothing is left but the four walls
which appear as much worn by the weather
within as without, showing that many years
must have passed since they were sheltered by
roof. The chapel, which is built of stone
looks as if it had been ruined soon after it:
erection, and for some cause or another had
never been restored.


There was not living human creature OIL
whole island but myself and an old man, who
crawling in an aimless sort of way among The
rocks. as if he had lost himself and could no
get out. | sat down and watched him. The
turf was soft, and great piece of gray rocl
gave good rest for my back. He was, as
said cropping slowly among the sharpest an(
bacest-looking shelves of rock. l wondered
what be could be looking for. Eggs? No
the tide flowed where be was no eggs coul(
lie there. Sea weed No; there was plenty
of that on the fiat shore; and l could then seq
from where | lay a horse and cart engaged
in carrying it away to one of the neighborine
farms, where it is used as manure | got quite
curious about my old man. There he was Will
wagging head and slow rheumatic limbs, peer
ing patiently about, and every now and ther
picking something up. The old man was look
ing for irewood, and there being hardly any
trees on this part of the island went stick
ing " on the shore. The fuel on his heartt
would often tell strange stories, If one coulC
hear it speak logs from which the numb fin
gers of drowning men had at last relaxed thei
hold oar blades which had struck ice in Arc
tic seas, or stirred the long grass in some trop
ical creek; charred scraps which had hissed il
the water as they fell from burning ship on,
in the middle Of the sea thin ribs of islanl
boats, which had put in aud out for many
years. till some rough night they had touched
the rock, and cracked like eggs.


What a bundle of history the old man tiet
on his back at ast-he and it alike in the las
chapter Of the tale. As he crept towards me
l thought of questioning him absut the ruined
chapel that was there; perhaps he might knov
its legend so, with general meteorological
preface, asked what be could tell about it
and gave him good cut off piece of Caven
dish had in my pocket, as retainer.


Sir said he q leave out the thanks. an,
his rrf'que on my remarks about the weather.
Il am growing an old man now, and it's a
much as l can do to get these few sticks bu
l have seen more things worth picking her
than them, in my day"


Such as wrecks ?" l suggested.


"Ay, you are right there. sir Time wa
when a poor man might get q chance bu
now, what with your lighthouses and life
boats, and coast-guard and police, either ther
as owns the wreck get ashore all right, az
avaricious after their things; or. if so be the.
don't, 'taint often you can get much more tha
the value Of these few sticks out Of a ship, No