AN AUTUMN RAMBLE IN SURREY 113 



distance was long and the ascent heavy, before they 

 reached his last resting-place. The coffin having 

 been brought out they fell back on either side for 

 his relatives to pass, and then the inhabitants of more 

 than one scattered hamlet fell in to form a long 

 procession, and proceeded on the road through the 

 firs. Others joined them from various forest tracks, 

 and presently the assemblage was complete. Even 

 the children from the moorland school were there, 

 walking two-and-two, hand-in-hand. George was 

 beloved by all ; he had lived all his life in their 

 hamlet, and married a wife from it ; and his manly, 

 gentle bearing and generous nature had endeared 

 him to all. 



No fashionable mourning garb is to be seen here. 

 The lasses have their Sunday dress on, and some of 

 the men are in their working clothes, having thrown 

 down the axe and billhook to join the procession. 

 There is nothing out of place in their mixed garb, 

 the surroundings are in harmony with it, and the 

 whole forms a most impressive scene. 



When the churchyard is reached, the followers 

 arrange themselves in a circle round the grave. The 

 lasses have little bunches of flowers those of them, 

 at least, who have been able to get some ; the others 

 have sprigs of fir, juniper, and heather. 



I 



