34 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



dows and doors were carefully barricaded, and the house was allowed 

 to go to ruin ; so likewise was the garden. A tree which fell across 

 the walk was not cleared away except to allow a passage to the house. 

 I visited the hermit some years ago, going up to the window of 

 what had been the kitchen. Glass and casement had long disappeared ; 







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the strong upright iron bars alone remained. Here the possessor of 

 ample means, a man of at least fair education, lived day and night. 

 He appeared to emerge from a bed of ashes. 1 He had not slept in a 

 bed for many years. He came forward, and entered, rather reluc- 



1 I observed that, when his room was entered after death, the floor was found to be 

 covered two or more feet with cinders that had accumulated. A farmer informs me that 

 he has since removed fourteen cart-loads of cinders from the house and around it. 



