THROUGH FIRS AND HEATHER. 283 



One was a butcher's shop, the other a baker's. 

 They had since closed them, for reasons best, known 

 to themselves. 



It may have been in this wild land that some 

 political wanderer, seeking rest and health after 

 arduous parliamentary duties, first conceived the 

 idea of giving the tiller of the soil and the foresters 

 three acres and a cow. There are acres here, quite 

 enough and to spare, for all the inhabitants; but 

 the land would not keep cows, even if whole herds 

 were distributed. There is something pathetic in 

 the look of those two new shops, with their blinds 

 down, torn, and mildewed. To all appearance no 

 one had ventured to repeat the experiment. The 

 rustic population will go to shops in their own 

 immediate neighbourhood, or to a general shop, 

 where you can get anything from birch-brooms to 

 pickles, only when they are obliged to do so. The 

 town tradesmen take the greater portion of the 

 country money, because the people firmly believe 

 that they can get better value for their money 

 where articles are sold in large quantities, on the 

 principle of moderate profits and quick returns. 

 The country is well solicited for custom in all 



