6*0 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. 



The return of the good ladies to their carriage 

 was by no means without its interest to me. They 

 passed between a double row of the villagers, re- 

 turning their salutations with kindness, and occa- 

 sionally making enquiries after their welfare. A 

 message was sent to the clergyman to invite him 

 to eat his roast beef at the hall, a ceremony which 

 I found was but rarely omitted, and if the weather 

 was bad, a carriage was sent for his conveyance. 

 There seemed, in short, to be a reciprocal kindness 

 and good will existing on all sides, a proof that 

 the influence and fortune of the proprietors of 

 Cleveland Hall had been exercised in promoting 

 the welfare of those around it. 



As I returned with my companion from church 

 on foot, we overtook my acquaintance, John Porter, 

 having under his charge a very pretty girl, who I 

 discovered was his grand-daughter, and was con- 

 sidered the beauty of the village. It might be 

 doubted which of the two the old man regarded 

 with most affection, this girl, or his mighty barrels 

 of ale. It is certain that he not only looked at, 

 but partook of the latter with peculiar complacency, 

 and you could not gratify him more than by lisl en- 

 ing to his account of the age and history of his 

 potent brewings. The grand-daughter offered a 

 good contrast to the tall, athletic form of her 

 grand-sire. She had a slight, delicate figure, with 

 large black eyes, a pale but clear complexion, and 



