152 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



ring, &quot; to tell us of any house in this vicinity where we should 

 be likely to obtain lodging for the night ?&quot; 



&quot; No dear me ! who are you 1&quot; 



&quot; We are strangers in the town ; travellers, who reached 

 here this evening, and we have been looking for several hours 

 to find some place where we could sleep, but all the inns are 

 full.&quot; 



&quot; Come here ; let me look at you. You are young men, are 

 you not ? come up to me, you need not be afraid yes, I see; 

 youths&quot; (we had caps on, which is unusual in England except 

 for school-boys). &quot; Why, poor youths, I am sorry for you 

 strangers you wait here, and I will call my servant and see 

 if she does not think she can find where you can get a bed.&quot; 



She then went in, and in a few minutes returned with a 

 maid whom she called Susan, to whom she repeated what we 

 had said ; and then inquired further what w r as our business, 

 were we &quot; travelling with the consent of our parents,&quot; &c., and 

 remarked &quot; Your parents are reputable people, I think : 

 yes yes dear me ! yes poor youths. Yes, I will find 

 beds for you. You are good youths, and Susan shall but 

 come in : you will sit in the parlour, and my servant, Susan, 

 shall sit with you a few minutes, and I will see. Come ia, 

 come in, good youths.&quot; 



While we remained in the parlour it was infinitely droll 

 to hear the kind old woman talking with another in the next 

 room about the safety and propriety of lodging us. &quot; I have 

 Icnoiv.n the world, and I cannot be deceived : these are good 

 youths&quot; 



It was at length concluded that if we would each of us 

 pay a shilling, (&quot; and then we could give whatever we liked 

 besides to Susan&quot;) and if we would be willing to have our 

 doors locked on the outside, we should be provided then and 

 there with beds. The old woman then came in again to us, 



