72 Wild Life in a Soidkern County 



CHAPTER V. 



TILLAGE ARCHITECTURE — THE COTTAGE PREACHER — COTTAGE 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 commodious, 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 cot- 

 tages 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 the 

 ground-plan of the village. All the odd nooks and corners 

 seem to have been preferred for building sites ; and even 

 the steep side of the hill is dotted with cottages, with 

 gardens at an angle of forty-five degrees or more, and 

 therefore difficult to work. Here stands a group of elm 

 trees ; there half-a-dozen houses ; next a cornfield thrust- 



