^xcursion^ 241 



built a wall across the entrance, at Grange. The plan did 

 not answer ; but that was, because, according to the popular 

 belief from generation to generation, the wall was not 

 built one course higher. It is simply for want of a top- 

 course on that wall that eternal spring does not reign in Bor- 

 rowdale. Another anecdote shows, however, that a bright 

 wit did occasionally show himself among them. A * states- 

 man ' (an * estatesman,' or small proprietor) went one day 

 to a distant fair, or sale, and brought home what neither he 

 nor his neighbours had ever seen before — a pair of stirrups. 

 Home he came jogging with his feet in his stirrups ; but, by 

 the time he had reached his own door, he had jammed his 

 feet in so fast that they would not come out. There was 

 great alarm and lamentation ; but as it could not be helped 

 now, the good man sat on his horse in the pasture for a day 

 or two, his family bringing him food, till the eldest son, vexed 

 to see the horse suffering by exposure, proposed to bring 

 them both into the stable. This was done ; and there sat 

 the farmer for several days, — his food being brought to him 

 as before. At length it struck the second son that it was a 

 pity not to make his father useful, and release the horse ; so 

 he proposed to carry him, on the saddle, into the house. 

 By immense exertion it was done ; the horse being taken 

 alongside the midden in the yard to ease the fall ; and the 

 good man found himself under his own roof again, — spin- 

 ning wool in a corner of the kitchen. There the mounted 

 man sat spinning, through the cleverness of his second son, 

 till the lucky hour arrived of the return of the youngest 

 son, who was a scholar, — a learned student from St. Bees. 

 After duly considering the case, he gave his counsel. He 

 suggested that the good man should draw his feet out of his 

 shoes. This was done, amid the blessings of the family ; 

 and the good man was restored to his occupation and to 



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