The Derbyshire Rivers. 67 



ter of the ancient Fontinalia. Ascension-day is the one 

 usually set apart for it, the inhabitants keeping holiday, 

 and exchanging all kind courtesies and hospitalities. 

 The wells that lie in different parts of the hamlet, to the 

 number of five, are ornamented with arches, pilasters, and 

 festoons, the former covered with arabesque of flowers, 

 mingled with evergreen and other foliage, and inlaid 

 with appropriate Scripture texts. In the forenoon there 

 is a service at the church, after which the clergyman, 

 wearing his surplice, and attended by the choir, who 

 chant as they go along, and by the entire congregation, 

 leads the way to the nearest well, where the people form 

 a circle, and hear a psalm read ; after this a hymn is 

 sung : and the procession moves to the second well, 

 where the ceremony is renewed, and so on till the entire 

 series has been visited. When all is over, the Baronet's 

 Hall is liberally opened for the public enjoyment. 



The phenomenon set forth in the Wormhill Springs 

 is in Derbyshire by no means an uncommon one ; 

 streams in several places suddenly lose themselves in 

 the ground, bursting out again some distance away, after 

 the manner of the Spanish Guadal quiver.* Locally, the 

 places where the water disappears are called " Water- 

 Swallows." If we will but read it, there is a sweet 

 lesson in them. Often and often, while treading Life's 

 anxious paths, we feel as if we were forgotten and for- 



* See, for interesting details respecting these rivers, Garner's 

 " Natural History of Staffordshire," p. 21. 



