VILLAGE MAIDENS. 113 



many a spot after our leaving Strands, between 

 it and Calder Bridge, the golden blossom 

 of the gorse, mixed with the purple heath and 

 blue bell. 



AMICUS. I did in Autumn reminding me 

 of spring ; and you, I hope, saw at Strands the 

 village maidens performing their toilet at the 

 little stream, which runs close to the inn, 

 nowise abashed at being observed, as if it were 

 their regular habit; to be sure, it consisted 

 merely in the washing of their face, hands 

 and arms, and the combing their hair; and 

 the time was the early morning, when few were 

 out and stirring. 



PISCATOR. That I did; and that, too, in- 

 terested me, as marking primitive ways; I 

 witnessed it in going to the church, one of the 

 same form as that of Wasdale-head, but triple 

 its size, and with the complement of two bells 

 to its belfry, and a churchyard well filled with 

 graves and grave-stones inscribed with simple 

 lines " in memoriam" very many of them of 

 persons of advanced ages; the church (a de- 

 pendency of St. Bees) having the privilege 

 of burying, whilst that at Wasdale-head is 

 limited in its offices to marrying and chris- 

 I 



