208 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



Church Stretton is a little village mostly made up of inns on 

 the main street. We chose the Stag's Head, a picturesque, 

 many-gabled cottage, part of it very old, and, as we were told, 

 formerly a manor-house of the Earl of Derby, who spent one 

 night (ever to be remembered !) in it. It was close by a curi- 

 ously-carved church, and graveyard. From among a great many 

 " improving" epitaphs, I select the following as worthy of more 

 extended influence: 



i. 



A NON SEQUITCB. 



" Farewell, my wife 

 And children dear, in number seven, 

 Therefore prepare yourself for Heaven." 



II. 



"AN HONEST MAN." 



"Erected by the Curate of Church Stretton." 



III. 



" Farewell, rain world, I have seen my last of thee ; 

 Thy smiles I court not, frowns I fear, 

 My cares are past, my head lies quiet here, 

 My time was short in this world, my work is done, 

 My rest I hope is in another, 

 In a quiet grave I lie, near my beloved mother." 



IV. 



" A Friend so true, 

 There is but few, 

 And difficult to find ; 

 A man more just, 

 And true to trust, 

 There is not left behind." 



V. 



" You that are young, behold and see 

 How quickly death has conquered me ; 

 His fatal shaft it was so strong, 

 And cut me off while I was young, 

 But God above, He knew for why, 

 That in my youth I was to die." 



