POOR MOORLAND HOLDINGS. 135 



cottage gossip, called in the woman from the 

 cottage next door and gave her a sovereign 

 also. 



It is probable that had the type of English 

 squire such as that of Verwood and of 

 Wootton been common throughout the length 

 and breadth of our land, the day of the 

 appearance of a public body as a rural owner 

 would have been delayed for an indefinite 

 period. 



