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very deserving couple, Isaac and Betty Hutchinson. During the 

 latter part of her life old Betty was very lame, and had to move 

 about on crutches ; but it was seldom she was absent from the 

 "ingle nook," and numbers of people when travelling that way 

 called in to see the old lady and enjoy the lively "crack." Old 

 Isaac, on the other hand, was quiet and retiring, his wife doing all 

 the talking. After the celebrated firm of Bass and Co. had made 

 a success with their India Pale Ale, an agent was sent to introduce 

 that beverage to the inns of the Lake District. The late Mr. John 

 Atkinson, of the " King's Head," Thirlspot, at that time a large 

 cattle dealer, and well known all over the district, accompanied 

 the traveller for the purpose of introducing him to parties likely to 

 become customers. Among the rest they called on old Isaac and 

 told him how Bass's beer was likely to be asked for by coach 

 passengers and other tourists, how that it had become so popular 

 as a drink, and begged to be allowed to place a good order in his 

 hands. They received from the old man the following reply : — 

 " I git aw my yal fra Alfred Eemison o' t' Burns, an' it's alius 

 varra good ; bit I divvent want to be unneighbourly, — what, ye 

 mun send me a hofe quarter " (a cask containing four-and-a-half 

 gallons). A tablet inserted in the wall of the front side of the 

 house, facing the old turnpike road, bears a somewhat remarkable 

 inscription : — 



MDCCXIX. 



This building's age these letters show ; 

 Though many gaze, there's few that know. 



This was probably true when the rhyme was first placed there- - 

 that is one hundred and sixty-seven years ago. At that time the 

 surrounding inhabitants possessed little or no education, and the 

 author probably intended it as a sarcasm upon the ignorance of 

 the people. 



The " Fish Inn," Buttermere, has for a long time been famous 

 as being the home of " Mary, the Buttermere beauty," whose brief 

 romance excited so much sympathy about the end of last century. 

 She was first brought into notice by the author of "A Fortnight's 

 Ramble to the Lakes," who thus described the " Maid of the inn," 



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