i;38 The hule Water Get TroAl. By Walter Deans. 



were employed in the post office. In the money order and 

 postal order department there were last year 40,468 transactions, 

 and in the savings bank 2,491. In addition we have the news- 

 papers delivered by Smith & Co. and other newsagents. What 

 a tale does this tell of business, education, and literature. 



" Then farewell Morpeth, ancient town, 

 May blessings on thee shower, 

 As sweet as flowers around thee blown, 



In Spring's propitious hour." Dodd. 



The Rule Water Ca' Trail. By Walter Deans, 

 Hobkirk. 



The starting point of this ancient roadway or "Trail," is 

 from a large oval camp on the estate of VS^auchope, and 

 situated nearly half-a-mile to the south of the mansion house. 

 The shepherd's cottage, called the ''Dyke heads," is a short 

 way below the camp ; and the appellation of Dykeheads to the 

 cottage may have been derived from the camp. 



The camp, which has consisted of an outer and inner rampart, 

 is composed entirely of earth ; there is no appearance of any 

 stone-facing, excepting what may have been loosely thrown out 

 during the excavations. 



The Fosse may have been originally 10 feet deep in some 

 parts ; but as the whole area has in recent times been planted, and 

 now affords slielter for cattle and sheep, together with the debris of 

 the plantation, the greatest depth of the fosse is now only about 6 

 feet, and the circumference of the vallum 160 yards. A strong 

 and pure spring of water is .situated a few yards below, at which 

 the constructors of the fort could abundantly quench their thirst. 

 On the side to the north-east the vallum opens, and for nearly 

 50 yards, owing to the soft nature of the ground, the road or 

 " Trail " is shallow but perfectly distinct ; but coming in contact 

 with and probably joining the old loaning that ascends from 

 Wauchope to the hill part of the estate, the "Trail" for 

 several hundred yards is entirely lost. It however again 

 appears deep and broad in the old plantation at the back of 

 Wauchope onstead, and after a direct course of 100 yards to 



