A Farmer’s Life 
there was deepish water. On this account, and 
because Slade’s Pond was attractive during frosts, 
Ann was forbidden, as already told, to venture on 
ice there herself. ‘There it was, accordingly, that 
she paid the penalty of disobedience, and fell 
through the ice into the water. But the mishap 
enriched her after all with a cautionary tale she 
never could tell too often. I do not remember 
hearing it for the first time. From my infancy I 
seem to have known “‘ how Aunt Ann fell in 
the pond.” 
She had a quaint, mischievous manner, truly 
endearing, of “ getting at,” “‘ chipping” people 
she liked. A friend of mine had been talking, 
with over-emphasis, of some practice or other 
which seemed to him to stamp the “ High 
Church”? with absurdity. Ann demurely let 
him finish, then, with a gleam in her eyes, turned 
to him, saying, “ You know, I’m a bit High 
Church myself.’ It was most comic to see him 
look so flabbergasted ; yet he grew the more fond 
of her from that moment, she had done it so 
neatly, and the two always teased one another 
afterwards. As for her being “ High” or 
‘““ Low ”? Church, I never knew it. She was a 
devout churchwoman always. 
Me too she honoured with an annual teasing. 
As sure as my birthday came round she had a little 
present for me, accompanied as surely with an 
affectionate note beginning “‘ Dear o/d George.” 
200 
