152 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



It was once connected with an abbey, and other religious 

 houses that stood near it, and by a long under-ground pas 

 sage with the nunnery at the other side of the town. Think 

 of the poor girls walking with a wailing chant, through that 

 mile of darkness, to assist in the morning service at the ca 

 thedral. 



Our approach to it this morning was by a something less 

 gloomy and tedious way. We were accidentally in an alley 

 in the vicinity, when we saw a gentleman in a white gown, 

 and a square or university cap on his head, with a lady on 

 his arm, enter an old, arched, and groined passage. We fol 

 lowed him adventurously, not being sure that it was not the 

 entrance to his residence. After passing to the rear of the 

 block of buildings that fronted on the alley, we found our 

 selves in a kind of gallery or covered promenade attached to 

 the cathedral. (The cloisters.) From this we passed into 

 the nave (or long arm of the cross). Its length, its broad, 

 flat stone floor, entirely free from obstruction, except by a 

 row of thick clustered columns near the sides, and the great 

 height and darkness of its oak-ceiled roof, produced a sensa 

 tion entirely new to us, from architecture. Its dignity was 

 increased by a general dimness, and -i)y the breadth of the 

 softened, coloured light, that flowed in one sheet through a 

 very large stained- glass window at one end. In the end op 

 posite this were wide piers that support the tower, and be 

 tween the two central of these were the gilded organ-pipes 

 that we had seen in our nocturnal visit. 



Under these was an arched door, on each side of which 

 stood about thirty boys, from ten to fifteen years old, dressed 

 in white robes ; the &quot; singing boys&quot; or &quot; choristers.&quot; Walk 

 ing leisurely up and down the otherwise vacant floor of the 

 nave were &quot; my Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells&quot; (I believe 

 that is the title), the dean and canons, &c. A lot of eccle- 



