88 Wild Life in a Southern County. 
CHAPTER V. 
VILLAGE ARCHITECTURE—THE COTTAGE PREACHER—COT- 
TAGE SOCIETY—THE SHEPHERD-—-EVENTS OF THE 
VILLAGE YEAR. 
SOME few farmhouses, with cow-yards and rick-yards 
attached, are planted in the midst of the village ; and 
these have cottages occupied by the shepherds and 
carters, or other labourers, who remain at work for 
the same employer all the year. These cottages are 
perhaps the best in the place, larger and more com- 
modious, with plenty of space round them, and fair- 
sized gardens close to the door. The system of hiring 
for a twelvemonth has been bitterly attacked ; but as 
a matter of fact there can be no doubt that a man 
with a family is better off when settled in one spot 
with constant employment, and any number of odd 
jobs for his wife and children. The cottages not 
attached to any particular farm—belonging to various 
small owners—are generally much less convenient ; 
they are huddled together, and the footpaths and 
rights of way frequently cross, and so lead to endless 
bickering. 
Not the faintest trace of design can be found in 
