130 Ay AMERICAN FARMER IX EXGLAXD. 



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 morning service at the cathedral ! 



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 followed 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 ourselves in a kind of gallery 

 or covered promenade attached to the outside of 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 sensation entirely new to us. Its dignity was in- 

 creased by a general dimness, and by the breadth of the softened, 

 colored light, that flowed in one sheet through a very large 

 stained-glass window at one end. In the end opposite this were 

 wide piers that support the tower, and between the two central 

 ones 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 " singing boys," or " choristers." Walking leisurely 

 up and down the otherwise vacant floor of the nave, were " my 

 Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells" (I believe that is the title), the 

 dean and canons, etc. ; a squad of ecclesiastical dignitaries, whose 

 very titles were strange to me, but altogether forming, what Mrs. 

 Jones said w r e should see, " a very pretty pack of priests." The 

 bishop was a thin man, with an insignificant face, and crisp hair 



