306 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



sleeping, you might pass as comfortable and warm 

 a night up there in, not on, the sweet hay, as in the 

 best chamber of the Clarendon. 



In the room where we sat was the usual large 

 stove, and round it ran a bench, as well as along 

 the walls. There was one deal chair besides, and a 

 deal table, a clock, and a closet where the pans of 

 milk were placed, that the warmth might the more 

 quickly cause the cream to form in thick and luscious 

 layers*. 



As it was late in the season the greater part of the 

 cows were gone into the valley, and with them "the 

 Swiss," or chief dairyman. The calves only were left 

 behind for some weeks longer, with cows sufficient 

 to furnish milk for them, and to make butter for the 

 three herdsmen who were still here. These had to 

 tend the cattle, cart the manure, and keep all in order. 

 The elder man, under whose orders the others were, 

 cooked for them, skimmed the milk, made the butter, 

 and managed all relating to their frugal housekeep- 

 ing. They lived on bread and milk and butter. Their 

 complexions, clear and bright as possible, gave evi- 

 dence of perfect health ; and many a lady might have 

 envied their transparent purity. Health shone from 

 the men's eyes : the lids were thin, and moulded them- 



* I here saw a method of skimming milk that was new to me. 

 The dairyman took out a pan of milk, and passing his finger round 

 the surface, separated, as it were, the edge of the thick layer of cream 

 from the sides of the vessel ; then tilting up the pan, as if to pour 

 out the contents, and blowing the surface, it floated off, and tumbled, 

 almost in one piece, into the bowl put to receive it. 



