THE GOOD LANDLORD. 179 



among the old oaks, and through herds of deer. He could read 

 and write, and knew something of geography and arithmetic, 

 having been instructed by the curate of Ruabon, whom he seemed 

 to have much loved. (I think he had died lately.) He also 

 spoke kindly of Sir Watkins and lady, to whom his father was 

 shepherd, and said that all their servants and poor people were 

 much attached to them. Passing near the Hall, I asked for some 

 water, and he took me into one of the servants' cottages to get it. 

 There was an old woman rocking a cradle, and a young woman 

 ironing linen, both very neatly dressed ; the furniture plain and 

 meagre, but every thing clean, and an appearance of a good deal 

 of comfort about the room. 



While the repairs were being made upon the Hall, the family 

 lived in a cottage completely embowered among trees and shrubs, 

 which we afterwards passed ; and I had the honor of catching a 

 glimpse, through the foliage, of a form in a gray coat which, I 

 was assured, was the good Sir Watkins himself. 



Soon after leaving the park, I crossed the Esk by a very high 

 stone arch, built " by Sir Watkins," as some ragged boys and 

 girls, who were employed in collecting for manure the horse-dung 

 that dropped upon the road, informed me, and this was the last I 

 heard of Sir Watkins. 



