182 REMINISCENCES OF OLD ALLESTREE. 
-“ Eg-n-men” in the wrong place. Very unattractive, antiquated 
people we should think them now, though none the less hearty 
and sincere than we are in this more priggish or polished age— 
whichever be the correct term. At any rate, there was more solid 
oak and less veneer then than now. But all is changed, every 
thing is spick and span like a new pin. Poor old Josey with his 
bass viol, the old Squire and his fat dog, the village Schoolmistress 
with her huge cap and borders, and all the worshippers in the 
ancient fane are gone: there they lie under the green turf outside, 
gone to join a greater and nobler assem- 
bly! We have already noticed the cover 
of the font, and now give a sketch of both 
font and cover. We are sorry to say it 
has been taken away; it was not grand 
enough, so a much more valuable article 
was bought, but it had no history—the 
other had. Many generations had been 
brought to it for baptism, and it had 
acquired a value no money could pur- 
-. chase; it had the much greater mystic 
halo which time and old associations 
alone can lend. However, it is gone, 
and there is an end of it. 
During the time the church was roofless and dismantled, we 
went to make some sketches of some old writing on the walls 
at the east end, and, while doing so, were startled by the 
sudden appearance of a singular individual who appeared to be 
left in charge of the place. He began to discourse with great 
loquacity on the various curious features of the ruins. Pointing 
to the arched recess in the chancel, which was then a door- 
way into the vestry, he said, “ That’s the Founder’s Tomb, an’ I 
have taken up his bones; his head wer there, and his feet wer 
there ”—from which it appeared the Founder had been buried the 
wrong way about—“ an here’s one o’ his tayth ;” at the same time 
he produced the molar from the depth of his capacious waistcoat 
pocket. By this time it had grown dark, and we left him, and 
Sra I OY tiple ied, 
Seatili 
