154 THE DALESMEN AND BOOKS. 



little time and opportunity for reading. Here 

 they rise early, before day in the winter ; they 

 are little within doors; and they go to bed 

 early, even in winter, almost as soon as it is 

 dark, never using a light. Did you not observe 

 them half an hour ago passing through, and how 

 they took off their clouted shoes before going up 

 stairs ? which, by the bye, may account, with 

 the application of a little beeswax now and 

 then, for the stairs and flooring being so clean 

 and polished. 



AMICUS. What a singular state ! Now indeed 

 I can fancy the dales people as representing a 

 past period, that when books were scarce and 

 princely property ; or somewhat later, when the 

 few books in use were chained to the reading- 

 desks. 



PISCATOH. This idea of yours is rather an 

 exaggerated one. Probably the books belong- 

 ing to the family, now that the young people 

 are settled in life and out in the world, are put 

 by in some drawer or chest well cared for. 

 Though not a reading people, I can assure 

 you that commonly, in the poorest houses even, 

 there is a shelf holding a few volumes. 



AMICUS. Though I have not seen it, yet I 



