182 BRITISH RURAL LIFE AND LABOUR. 



turn in the direction of this cottage. Down one side of the 

 lane gurgled a limpid stream of water ; and from the hedge- 

 bank hung, in all their gentle majesty of form, the graceful 

 intermingled fronds of the lady fern, the hartstongue, and 

 the soft-prickly shield fern lapping the surface of the 

 brook. In front a hill rose proudly up over this charming 

 scene. Another turning, this time round to the left, after 

 a few steps up the lane, and a pretty sight met my view. 

 Straight in front a narrow path led up under a kind of vista. 

 On the right of this path there was a line of creeper-bound 

 cottages, eighteen in all, as I afterwards ascertained. Facing 

 the cottages was a row of little gardens overshadowed by 

 fruit-trees. Here and there rustic beehives were scattered 

 over these gardens, which contained flowers and shrubs 

 in addition to their little crops of vegetables. The walls 

 of some of the cottages were almost hidden by the creepers 

 which trailed upon them. The little '- nook ' was shut 

 in on almost every side by orchards. Surely Mrs. Hemans 

 must have visited this very spot when she wrote the well- 

 known lines : 



f The cottage homes of England, 

 By thousands on her plains, 

 They are smiling o'er the silvery brook 

 And round the hamlet fanes.' 



There, in very truth, were the cottage homes,' situated 

 in one of the most charming spots in the delightful West 

 of England : hard by bubbled the fern-lapped ' silvery 

 brook ' ; and the * gurgle ' of the pure water, as it tumbled 

 over the stones in its bed, mingling with the hum of the 

 bees, and the voices of birds singing in the adjoining 

 orchards, made a chorus of soft sounds which were a fit 

 accompaniment to the whole scene. 



'- From glowing orchards forth they peep, 



Each from its nook of leaves, 

 And fearless there the lowly sleep 

 As the birds beneath the eaves/ 



- The lowly sleep ' ! The - lowly ' human element was not 

 wanting. I caught sight of a child without shoes sitting 

 on a doorstep. It was that of No. i in the row. I went 

 up the steps, knocked at the door, and was asked - Would 

 I please to walk in ? ' by a woman who, with a baby in her 

 arms, stood upon the stone floor as I entered, and curtseyed, 

 after the custom of the country, on catching sight of me. 

 I sat on a chair where I was politely asked to seat myself. 

 What a change from the outside ! A piteous tale was 

 unfolded in response to my numerous inquiries. The 

 husband was a carter, and as the wages in this district had 

 been '- risen ' during the last few months, he was then in 

 receipt of an income of IDS. a week, in addition to which 



