157 



aspects. Wordsworth saw everything at its best and brightest 

 Gibson saw more of what was matter-of-fact and afforded scope for 

 satire and amusement. To Wordsworth, men and women usually 

 appeared in their holiday garb, and upon their very best behaviour. 

 Gibson, visiting those districts professionally, doubtless saw more 

 human nature en dishabille. Any one may see this well brought 

 out in his Folk-Speech of Cumberland, in a sketch in which he has 

 placed, side by side, Wordsworth's description and his own descrip- 

 tion of Betty Yewdale, who lived at Hackett, Little Langdale, 

 and who is yet well remembered in the neighbourhood. Under 

 Gibson's treatment Betty and her husband are certainly more 

 true to life. I think, however, he has unduly detracted from the 

 Wonderful Walker — a clergyman who upon a salary of five pounds 

 a year laboured for considerably over half a century, first at Torver, 

 then at Seathwaite, one of the remotest districts of this neighbour- 

 hood, and who by his industry, frugality, and perseverance, 

 combined with his untiring care for his flock, left a name and a 

 memory which is not likely to be soon forgotten ; and whose 

 example and influence have widened out very far beyond that 

 remote valley in which he lived and died. Wordsworth has made 

 him one of the most prominent characters in " The Excursion," 

 much of the scenery of which is laid in the valley of which Walker 

 was pastor ; and in sneering at Wordsworth, Gibson neglects no 

 opportunity of sneering at Walker as well. 



The dawnings of Gibson's poetical powers are to be seen in 

 Ravings and Ramblings, the original edition containing at least 

 three of his poetical pieces, one of considerable length, "A Ride 

 to Dungeon Gill on a Wet Day;" the other two being "An 

 Address to the Old Man," and " Moonshine on the Lake." They 

 are not written in the dialect, and they lack that force and terseness 

 which are to be found in his more matured poetical productions. 

 With regard to his later pieces both in prose and poetry, he tells 

 us himself that they were written more ior his ov/n amusement 

 than for anything else, in the midst of the many calls of a busy 

 professional life. " Joe and the Geologist," and " T' Reets on't," 

 mark perhaps more than any of his writings Gibson's mastery over 



