The Village of Lessenaugh. 181 



attention, it impelled a forcible desire to ascer- 

 tain the extent of the too evident misery under 

 which its forlorn inhabitants were doomed to 

 exist. 



On quitting the carriage, I followed a little 

 boy whose curiosity had led him to take a view 

 of us. Dirt and rags could not obscure the 

 health and intelligence which his countenance 

 displayed. He was hastening to announce to 

 his parents the arrival of strangers, and reached 

 the cabin a little before me. As I approached 

 the door, the height of which did not exceed 

 four feet and a half] I was met by the father, 

 bending double to get out of his wretched 

 abode. 



In erecting himself he presented the figure 

 of a man muscular, well-proportioned, and 

 athletic. I was so much struck with his ap- 

 pearance that I involuntarily stepped back. 



The gigantic figure, bare-headed before me, 

 had a beard that would not have disgraced an 

 ancient Israelite he was without shoes or stock- 

 ings and almost a sans-culotte with a coat, 

 or rather a jacket, that appeared as if the first 

 blast of wind would tear it to tatters. Though 

 his garb was thus tattered, he had a manly com- 

 manding countenance. I asked permission to 



