THE POETS PEDLAR. 219 



brought up in the family of such a one, who 

 after the earning of a little independence by 

 carrying a pack, sat down in Kendal, opening a 

 shop, and on his knee there she heard related 

 the incidents of his wanderings. To explain 

 how this happened to her, I should mention 

 that she was one of a large family of children 

 that became scattered owing to the early death 

 of their parents ; and so scattered was taken in 

 charge by a relation to whom the good pedlar 

 was married. I have called him noble ; he 

 truly belonged, as the poet has it, to " the 

 aristocracy of Nature," and on that sole account 

 was so courageously signalled out to be the 

 leading and chief person in the poem. 



AMICUS. These particulars are interesting; 

 they are new to me and I thank you for them. 



PISCATOE. Now we have crossed the Eothay 

 and are near the Brathay, observe that 

 chateau-like house on the right, so like a Swiss 

 country seat. It is Croft Lodge ; a pleasant 

 dwelling, under the shelter of Loughrigg. 

 Wealth has created it; the wealthy hitherto 

 have possessed it ; wealth gained in trade or 

 business, and it has had many inconstant occu- 



