A PILGRIMAGE. 349 



CHAPTER LIL 



A Pilgrimage. 



TI7HILE in London, I was one day visiting a library, when 

 the friend who conducted me called my attention to a series 

 of shelves, saying, "here are topographical and genealogical 

 records, arranged under the head of counties is yours an Eng- 

 lish name ? I have never seen it in England." 



"Yes, I believe it is at least our family came to America 

 from England." 



" From what part do you know?" 



" Essex, I've heard it said." 



" When," said he, taking down a book. 



"1630 to 40." 



" Yes, here it is Manor of Olmsted, in Bumpstead Helens, 

 Thaxstead ; passed out of the family near the end of sixteenth 

 century. Maurice de, married, and-so-forth. A moated grange, 

 now belongs to College, Cambridge. Where's the Ord- 

 nance map of Essex? Here. Let's see Thaxstead Olm- 

 sted Hall; yes, here it is only about six miles from a station. 

 Better go out there and see it, hadn't you ? You can do it in 

 half a day easily enough." 



The next day I went; traveling half an hour by rail, and then 



