126 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



Going into a cook-shop for supper, the first afternoon we 

 were in Chester, we were shown through three apartments 

 into a kitchen, and from that into a long, narrow, irregularly- 

 shaped room, with one little window high above our heads, 

 and twenty-seven old wood engravings in frames about the 

 walls. We had a very tolerable supper given us, and were 

 served by a six-foot-high Welsh girl that could understand but 

 little of our English. When we were ready to leave, a back 

 door was opened, and we were told that the first opening to 

 the left would bring us to the street. We found ourselves in 

 one of the narrow covered ways, and instead of turning off 

 to the street as directed, kept on in it to go where it should 

 happen to lead. Sometimes wide, sometimes narrow, run 

 ning first, as it appeared, between a man s kitchen and his 

 dining-room ; then into a dust-yard ; then suddenly narrowed, 

 and turned one side by a stable ; then opening into a yard, 

 across which a woman over a \vash-tub was scolding her hus 

 band, sitting with a baby and smoking at a window ; then 

 through a blacksmith s shop into a long, dark, crooked, 

 passage, like the gallery of a mine, at the other end of which 

 we found ourselves on a paved street not far from the 

 cathedral. 



We entered the burying-ground, and seeing tnat a small 

 door, that is cut in the large door of the cathedral, was ajar, 

 pushed it open and went in. It was dark, silent, and chill. 

 We felt strangely as we groped our way over the unobstruct 

 ed stone floor, and could make nothing of it until our eyes, 



this land against Turk, Frenchman, Spaniard, and Pretender. We have 

 as much pride in Old England, gentlemen, as any of you. &quot;We claim the 

 right to make ourselves at home on that ground with you. You must not 

 treat us as strangers.&quot; &quot;You are right ; you are welcome. Give us your 

 hand. The old blood will tell !&quot; And the whole table rose with a hurrah, 

 shaking our hands with a warmth that only patriotic pride will excuse 

 among Englishmen. 



