THE DALE TEACHER. 101 



AMICTJS. I was up early, and before you, 

 wishing to see more of this valley. I walked 

 up the height, from whence I could look down 

 into Morsdale Bottom, which, owing to bright 

 sunshine, I found less gloomy than I expected. 

 I had the company of the school-master, of 

 whom last night we had so favourable an 

 account from our worthy hostess, the farmer's 

 wife. He seems to me an excellent specimen 

 of the Dale-teacher. Anywhere he might be 

 taken for a school-master, so formal in his 

 conversation, and a little dictatorial ; but at 

 the same time modest and simple-mannered, 

 as if his natural disposition could not be over- 

 powered by his calling. He interested me by 

 what he told me of himself and his little flock, 

 how his only payment from the parents of the 

 children he taught was in board and lodging, 

 residing with each family a week or more in 

 turn, according to the number of scholars the 

 family yielded, a week the allowance for each 

 one. At this time his abode is here, in this very- 

 house, and for three weeks, three of the seven 

 children belonging to the farmer being under 

 his care. At the end of the three weeks, he 

 will take up his abode with the next family in 



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