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Wild Wales
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第3章

CHAPTERV

WelshBookStall—WitandPoetry—WelshofChester—BeautifulMorning—NobleFellow—TheCoilingSerpent—WrexhamChurch—

WelshorEnglish?—CodiadyrEhedydd。

ONtheafternoonofMondayIsentmyfamilyoffbythetraintoLlangollen,whichplacewehaddeterminedtomakeourhead—quartersduringourstayinWales。Iintendedtofollowthemnextday,notintrain,butonfoot,asbywalkingIshouldbebetterabletoseethecountry,betweenChesterandLlangollen,thanbymakingthejourneybytheflyingvehicle。AsIreturnedtotheinnfromthetrainItookrefugefromashowerinoneoftherowsorcoveredstreets,towhich,asIhavealreadysaid,oneascendsbyflightsofsteps;stoppingatabook—stallItookupabookwhichchancedtobeaWelshone。Theproprietor,ashortred—facedman,observingmereadingthebook,askedmeifIcouldunderstandit。

ItoldhimthatIcould。

"Ifso,"saidhe,"letmehearyoutranslatethetwolinesonthetitle—page。"

"AreyouaWelshman?"saidI。

"Iam!"hereplied。

"Good!"saidI,andItranslatedintoEnglishthetwolineswhichwereacoupletbyEdmundPrice,anoldarchdeaconofMerion,celebratedinhisdayforwitandpoetry。

ThemanthenaskedmefromwhatpartofWalesIcame,andwhenI

toldhimthatIwasanEnglishmanwasevidentlyoffended,eitherbecausehedidnotbelieveme,or,asImoreinclinetothink,didnotapproveofanEnglishman’sunderstandingWelsh。

ThebookwasthelifeoftheRev。Richards,andwaspublishedatCaerlleon,orthecityofthelegion,theappropriateancientBritishnamefortheplacenowcalledChester,alegionhavingbeenkeptstationedthereduringtheoccupationofBritainbytheRomans。

Ireturnedtotheinnanddined,andthenyearningforsociety,descendedintothekitchenandhadsomeconversationwiththeWelshmaid。ShetoldmethattherewereagreatmanyWelshinChesterfromallpartsofWales,butchieflyfromDenbighshireandFlintshire,whichlatterwasherowncountry。ThatagreatmanychildrenwereborninChesterofWelshparents,andbroughtupinthefearofGodandloveoftheWelshtongue。ThatthereweresomewhohadneverbeeninWales,whospokeasgoodWelshasherself,orbetter。ThattheWelshofChesterwereofvariousreligiouspersuasions;thatsomewereBaptists,someIndependents,butthatthegreaterpartwereCalvinistic—Methodists;thatsheherselfwasaCalvinistic—Methodist;thatthedifferentpersuasionshadtheirdifferentchapels,inwhichGodwasprayedtoinWelsh;thattherewereveryfewWelshinChesterwhobelongedtotheChurchofEngland,andthattheWelshingeneraldonotlikeChurchofEnglandworship,asIshouldsoonfindifIwentintoWales。

LateintheeveningIdirectedmystepsacrossthebridgetothegreen,whereIhaddiscoursedwiththeIrishitinerants。Iwishedtohavesomemoreconversationwiththemrespectingtheirwayoflife,and,likewise,astheyhadsostronglydesiredit,togivethemalittleChristiancomfort,formyconsciencereproachedmeformyabruptdepartureontheprecedingevening。Onarrivingatthegreen,however,Ifoundthemgone,andnotracesofthembutthemarkoftheirfireandalittledirtystraw。Ireturned,disappointedandvexed,tomyinn。

EarlythenextmorningIdepartedfromChesterforLlangollen,distantabouttwentymiles;Ipassedoverthenoblebridgeandproceededalongabroadandexcellentroad,leadinginadirectionalmostduesouththroughpleasantmeadows。Ifeltveryhappy—andnowonder;themorningwasbeautiful,thebirdssangmerrily,andasweetsmellproceededfromthenew—cuthayinthefields,andIwasboundforWales。IpassedovertheriverAllanandthroughtwovillagescalled,asIwastold,PulfordandMarford,andascendedahill;fromthetopofthishilltheviewisveryfine。TotheeastarethehighlandsofCheshire,tothewesttheboldhillsofWales,andbelow,onallsidesafairvarietyofwoodandwater,greenmeadsandarablefields。

"Youmaywelllookaround,Measter,"saidawaggoner,who,comingfromthedirectioninwhichIwasbound,stoppedtobreathehisteamonthetopofthehill;"youmaywelllookaround—thereisn’tsuchaplacetoseethecountryfrom,farandnear,aswherewestand。Manycometothisplacetolookaboutthem。"

Ilookedattheman,andthoughtIhadneverseenamorepowerful—

lookingfellow;hewasaboutsixfeettwoincheshigh,immenselybroadintheshoulders,andcouldhardlyhaveweighedlessthansixteenstone。Igavehimthesealofthemorning,andaskedwhetherhewasWelshorEnglish。

"English,Measter,English;bornt’othersideofBeeston,pureCheshire,Measter。"

"Isuppose,"saidI,"therearefewWelshmensuchbigfellowsasyourself。"

"No,Measter,"saidthefellow,withagrin,"therearefewWelshmensobigasI,oryourselfeither;theyaresmallmenmostly,Measter,themWelshers,verysmallmen—andyetthefellowscanusetheirhands。Iamabitofafighter,Measter,atleastIwasbeforemywifemademejointheMethodistconnection,andIoncefitwithaWelshmanatWrexham,hecamefromthehills,andwasarealWelshman,andshorterthanmyselfbyawholeheadandshoulder,buthestoodupagainstme,andgavememorethanplayformymoney,tillIgrippedhim,flunghimdownandmyselfuponhim,andthenofcourset’wasalloverwithhim。"

"Youareanoblefellow,"saidI,"andacredittoCheshire。Willyouhavesixpencetodrink?"

"Thankyou,Measter,IshallstopatPulford,andshallbegladtodrinkyourhealthinajugofale。"

Igavehimsixpence,anddescendedthehillononeside,whilehe,withhisteam,descendeditontheother。

"AgenuineSaxon,"saidI;"Idaresayjustlikemanyofthosewho,underHengist,subduedtheplainsofLloegrandBritain。TaliesincalledtheSaxonracetheCoilingSerpent。HehadbetterhavecalledittheBigBull。Hewasanoblepoet,however:whatwonderfullines,uponthewhole,arethoseinhisprophecy,inwhichhespeaksoftheSaxonsandBritons,andoftheresultoftheirstruggle—

"Aserpentwhichcoils,Andwithfuryboils,FromGermanycomingwitharm’dwingsspread,ShallsubdueandshallenthrallThebroadBritainall,FromtheLochlinoceantoSevern’sbed。

"AndBritishmenShallbecaptivesthenTostrangersfromSaxonia’sstrand;

TheyshallpraisetheirGod,andholdTheirlanguageasofold,ButexceptwildWalestheyshalllosetheirland。"

IarrivedatWrexham,andhavingtakenaveryheartybreakfastattheprincipalinn,forIfeltratherhungryafteramorning’swalkoftenmiles,Iwalkedaboutthetown。ThetownisreckonedaWelshtown,butitsappearanceisnotWelsh—itsinhabitantshaveneitherthelooknorlanguageofWelshmen,anditsnameshowsthatitwasfoundedbysomeSaxonadventurer,WrexhambeingaSaxoncompound,signifyingthehomeorhabitationofRexorRag,andidentical,ornearlyso,withtheWroxhamofEastAnglia。Itisastirringbustlingplace,ofmuchtraffic,andofseveralthousandinhabitants。Itsmostremarkableobjectisitschurch,whichstandsatthesouth—westernside。Tothischurch,afterwanderingforsometimeaboutthestreets,Irepaired。Thetowerisquadrangular,andisatleastonehundredfeethigh;ithasonitssummitfourlittleturrets,oneateachcorner,betweeneachofwhicharethreespirelets,themiddlemostofthethreethehighest。

Thenaveofthechurchistotheeast;itisoftwostories,bothcrenulatedatthetop。Iwishedtoseetheinteriorofthechurch,butfoundthegatelocked。Observingagroupofidlerscloseathandwiththeirbacksagainstawall,Iwentuptothem,and,addressingmyselftoone,inquiredwhetherIcouldseethechurch。

"Ohyes,sir,"saidtheman;"theclerkwhohasthekeylivescloseathand;oneofusshallgoandfetchhim—by—the—bye,Imayaswellgomyself。"Hemovedslowlyaway。Hewasalargebulkymanofaboutthemiddleage,andhiscompanionswereaboutthesameageandsizeashimself。IaskedthemiftheywereWelsh。"Yes,sir,"

saidone,"Isupposeweare,fortheycallusWelsh。"IaskedifanyofthemcouldspeakWelsh。"No,sir,"saidtheman,"alltheWelshthatanyofusknow,orindeedwishtoknow,is’Cwrwda。’"

Heretherewasagenerallaugh。Cwrwdasignifiesgoodale。Iatfirstthoughtthatthewordsmightbeintendedasahintforatreat,butwassoonconvincedofthecontrary。Therewasnogreedyexpectationinhiseyes,nor,indeed,inthoseofhiscompanions,thoughtheyalllookedasiftheywerefondofgoodale。I

inquiredwhethermuchWelshwasspokeninthetown,andwastoldverylittle。WhenthemanreturnedwiththeclerkIthankedhim。

HetoldmeIwaswelcome,andthenwentandleanedwithhisbackagainstthewall。Heandhismateswereprobablyasetofbooncompanionsenjoyingtheairafteranight’sboutatdrinking。I

wassubsequentlytoldthatallthepeopleofWrexhamarefondofgoodale。Theclerkunlockedthechurchdoor,andconductedmein。

Theinteriorwasmodern,butinnorespectsremarkable。TheclerkinformedmethattherewasaWelshserviceeverySundayafternooninthechurch,butthatfewpeopleattended,andthosefewwerealmostentirelyfromthecountry。HesaidthatneitherhenortheclergymanwerenativesofWrexham。HeshowedmetheWelshChurchBible,andatmyrequestreadafewversesfromthesacredvolume。

Heseemedahighlyintelligentman。Igavehimsomething,whichappearedtobemorethanheexpected,anddeparted,afterinquiringofhimtheroadtoLlangollen。

Icrossedabridge,forthereisabridgeandastreamtooatWrexham。Theroadatfirstboreduewest,butspeedilytookasoutherlydirection。Imovedrapidlyoveranundulatingcountry;aregionofhills,orratherofmountainslayonmyrighthand。Attheentranceofasmallvillageapoor,sickly—lookingwomanaskedmeforcharity。

"AreyouWelshorEnglish?"saidI。

"Welsh,"shereplied;"butIspeakbothlanguages,asdoallthepeoplehere。"

Igaveherahalfpenny;shewishedmeluck,andIproceeded。I

passedsomehugeblackbuildingswhichamantoldmewerecollieries,andseveralcartsladenwithcoal,andsooncametoRhiwabon—alargevillageabouthalfwaybetweenWrexhamandLlangollen。Iobservedinthisplacenothingremarkable,butanancientchurch。Mywayfromhencelaynearlywest。Iascendedahill,fromthetopofwhichIlookeddownintoasmokyvalley。I

descended,passingbyagreatmanycollieries,inwhichIobservedgrimymenworkingamidstsmokeandflame。AtthebottomofthehillnearabridgeIturnedround。Aridgetotheeastparticularlystruckmyattention;itwascoveredwithduskyedifices,fromwhichproceededthunderingsounds,andpuffsofsmoke。AwomanpassedmegoingtowardsRhiwabon;Ipointedtotheridgeandaskeditsname;IspokeEnglish。Thewomanshookherheadandreplied"DimSaesneg。"

"Thisisasitshouldbe,"saidItomyself;"InowfeelIaminWales。"IrepeatedthequestioninWelsh。

"CefnBach,"shereplied—whichsignifiesthelittleridge。

"Diolchiti,"Ireplied,andproceededonmyway。

Iwasnowinawildvalley—enormoushillswereonmyright。Theroadwasgood,andaboveit,inthesideofasteepbank,wasacausewayintendedforfootpassengers。Itwasoverhungwithhazelbushes。IwalkedalongittoitsterminationwhichwasatLlangollen。Ifoundmywifeanddaughterattheprincipalinn。

Theyhadalreadytakenahouse。Wedinedtogetherattheinn;

duringthedinnerwehadmusic,foraWelshharperstationedinthepassageplayeduponhisinstrument"Codiadyrehedydd。""Ofasurety,"saidI,"IaminWales!"

CHAPTERVI

Llangollen—WynAbNudd—TheDee—DinasBran。

THEnorthernsideofthevaleofLlangollenisformedbycertainenormousrockscalledtheEglwysigrocks,whichextendfromeasttowest,adistanceofabouttwomiles。ThesouthernsideisformedbytheBerwynhills。ThevalleyisintersectedbytheRiverDee,theoriginofwhichisadeeplakenearBala,abouttwentymilestothewest。BetweentheDeeandtheEglwysigrisesaloftyhill,onthetopofwhicharetheruinsofDinasBran,whichbearnoslightresemblancetoacrown。Theupperpartofthehillisbarewiththeexceptionofwhatiscoveredbytheruins;onthelowerpartthereareinclosuresandtrees,with,hereandthere,agroveorfarm—house。Ontheothersideofthevalley,totheeastofLlangollen,isahillcalledPenyCoed,beautifullycoveredwithtreesofvariouskinds;itstandsbetweentheriverandtheBerwyn,evenasthehillofDinasBranstandsbetweentheriverandtheEglwysigrocks—itdoesnot,however,confrontDinasBran,whichstandsmoretothewest。

Llangollenisasmalltownorlargevillageofwhitehouseswithslateroofs,itcontainsabouttwothousandinhabitants,andissituatedprincipallyonthesouthernsideoftheDee。Atitswesternendithasanancientbridgeandamodestunpretendingchurchnearlyinitscentre,inthechancelofwhichrestthemortalremainsofanoldbardcalledGryffyddHiraethog。Fromsomeofthehousesonthesouthernsidethereisanobleview—DinasBrananditsmightyhillformingtheprincipalobjects。Theviewfromthenorthernpartofthetown,whichisindeedlittlemorethanasuburb,isnotquitesogrand,butisneverthelesshighlyinteresting。TheeasternentranceofthevaleofLlangollenismuchwiderthanthewestern,whichisoverhungbybulkyhills。

Therearemanypleasantvillasonbothsidesoftheriver,someofwhichstandaconsiderablewayupthehill;ofthevillasthemostnotedisPlasNewyddatthefootoftheBerwyn,builtbytwoIrishladiesofhighrank,whoresidedinitfornearlyhalfacentury,andwerecelebratedthroughoutEuropebythenameoftheLadiesofLlangollen。

TheviewofthehillofDinasBran,fromthesouthernsideofLlangollen,wouldbemuchmorecompletewereitnotforabulkyexcrescence,towardsitsbase,whichpreventsthegazerfromobtainingacompleteview。ThenameofLlangollensignifiesthechurchofCollen,andthevaleandvillagetaketheirnamefromthechurch,whichwasoriginallydedicatedtoSaintCollen,thoughsome,especiallytheneighbouringpeasantry,supposethatLlangollenisacompoundofLlan,achurch,andCollen,ahazel—

wood,andthatthechurchwascalledthechurchofthehazel—woodfromthenumberofhazelsintheneighbourhood。Collen,accordingtoalegendarylife,whichexistsofhiminWelsh,wasaBritonbybirth,andofillustriousancestry。HeservedforsometimeabroadasasoldieragainstJuliantheApostate,andslewaPaganchampionwhochallengedthebestmanamongsttheChristians。Returningtohisowncountryhedevotedhimselftoreligion,andbecameAbbotofGlastonbury,butsubsequentlyretiredtoacaveonthesideofamountain,wherehelivedalifeofgreatausterity。OnceashewaslyinginhiscellheheardtwomenoutabroaddiscoursingaboutWynAbNudd,andsayingthathewaskingoftheTylwythorTegFairies,andlordofUnknown,whereuponCollenthrustinghisheadoutofhiscavetoldthemtoholdtheirtongues,forthatWynAbNuddandhishostweremerelydevils。Atdeadofnightheheardaknockingatthedoor,andonhisaskingwhowasthere,avoicesaid:"IamamessengerfromWynAbNudd,kingofUnknown,andIamcometosummontheetoappearbeforemymasterto—morrow,atmid—day,onthetopofthehill。"

Collendidnotgo—thenextnighttherewasthesameknockingandthesamemessage。StillCollendidnotgo。Thethirdnightthemessengercameagainandrepeatedhissummons,addingthatifhedidnotgoitwouldbetheworseforhim。ThenextdayCollenmadesomeholywater,putitintoapitcherandrepairedtothetopofthehill,wherehesawawonderfullyfinecastle,attendantsinmagnificentliveries,youthsanddamselsdancingwithnimblefeet,andamanofhonourablepresencebeforethegate,whotoldhimthatthekingwasexpectinghimtodinner。Collenfollowedthemanintothecastle,andbeheldthekingonathroneofgold,andatablemagnificentlyspreadbeforehim。ThekingwelcomedCollen,andbeggedhimtotasteofthedaintiesonthetable,addingthathehopedthatinfuturehewouldresidewithhim。"Iwillnoteatoftheleavesoftheforest,"saidCollen。

"Didyoueverseemenbetterdressed?"saidtheking,"thanmyattendantshereinredandblue?"

"Theirdressisgoodenough,"saidCollen,"consideringwhatkindofdressitis。"

"Whatkindofdressisit?"saidtheking。

Collenreplied:"Theredontheonesidedenotesburning,andtheblueontheothersidedenotesfreezing。"Thendrawingforthhissprinkler,heflungtheholywaterinthefacesofthekingandhispeople,whereuponthewholevisiondisappeared,sothattherewasneithercastlenorattendants,noryouthnordamsel,normusicianwithhismusic,norbanquet,noranythingtobeseensavethegreenbushes。

ThevalleyoftheDee,ofwhichtheLlangollendistrictformspart,iscalledintheBritishtongueGlyndyfrdwy—thatis,thevalleyoftheDwyorDee。ThecelebratedWelshchieftain,generallyknownasOwenGlendower,wassurnamedafterthisvalley,thewholeofwhichbelongedtohim,andinwhichhehadtwoorthreeplacesofstrength,thoughhisgeneralabodewasacastleinSycharth,avalleytothesouth—eastoftheBerwyn,anddistantabouttwelvemilesfromLlangollen。

ConnectedwiththeDeethereisawonderfulDruidicallegendtothefollowingeffect。TheDeespringsfromtwofountains,highupinMerionethshire,calledDwyFawrandDwyFach,orthegreatandlittleDwy,whosewaterspassthroughthoseofthelakeofBalawithoutminglingwiththem,andcomeoutatitsnorthernextremity。

Thesefountainshadtheirnamesfromtwoindividuals,DwyFawrandDwyFach,whoescapedfromtheDeluge,whenalltherestofthehumanraceweredrowned,andthepassingofthewatersofthetwofountainsthroughthelake,withoutbeingconfoundedwithitsflood,isemblematicofthesalvationofthetwoindividualsfromtheDeluge,ofwhichthelakeisatype。

DinasBran,whichcrownsthetopofthemightyhillonthenorthernsideofthevalley,isaruinedstrongholdofunknownantiquity。

ThenameisgenerallysupposedtosignifyCrowCastle,branbeingtheBritishwordforcrow,andflocksofcrowsbeingfrequentlyseenhoveringoverit。Itmay,however,meanthecastleofBranorBrennus,orthecastleabovetheBran,abrookwhichflowsatitsfoot。

DinasBranwasaplacequiteimpregnableintheoldtime,andservedasaretreattoGruffydd,sonofMadawgfromtherageofhiscountrymen,whowereincensedagainsthimbecause,havingmarriedEmma,thedaughterofJamesLordAudley,hehad,attheinstigationofhiswifeandfather—in—law,sidedwithEdwardtheFirstagainsthisownnativesovereign。Butthoughitcouldshieldhimfromhisfoes,itcouldnotpreservehimfromremorseandthestingsofconscience,ofwhichhespeedilydied。

Atpresenttheplaceconsistsonlyofafewruinedwalls,andprobablyconsistedoflittlemoretwoorthreehundredyearsago:

RogerCyffynaWelshbard,whoflourishedatthebeginningoftheseventeenthcentury,wroteanenglynuponit,ofwhichthefollowingisatranslation:—

"Gone,gonearethygates,DinasBranontheheight!

Thywardersareblood—crowsandravens,Itrow;

NownoonewillwendfromthefieldofthefightTothefortressonhigh,savetheravenandcrow。"

CHAPTERVII

PoorBlackCat—Dissenters—Persecution—WhatImpudence!

THEhouseorcottage,foritwascalledacottagethoughitconsistedoftwostories,inwhichmywifehadprocuredlodgingsforus,wassituatedintheNorthernsuburb。Itsfrontwastowardsalargeperllanororchard,whichslopeddowngentlytothebanksoftheDee;itsbackwastowardstheroadleadingfromWrexham,behindwhichwasahighbank,onthetopofwhichwasacanalcalledinWelshtheCamlas,whosecommencementwasupthevalleyabouttwomileswest。Alittlewayuptheroad,towardsWrexham,wasthevicarageandalittlewaydownwasaflannelfactory,beyondwhichwasasmallinn,withpleasuregrounds,keptbyanindividualwhohadoncebeenagentleman’sservant。Themistressofthehousewasahighlyrespectablewidow,who,withaservantmaidwastowaituponus。Itwasasagreeableaplaceinallrespectsaspeoplelikeourselvescoulddesire。

AsIandmyfamilysatatteainourparlour,anhourortwoafterwehadtakenpossessionofourlodgings,thedooroftheroomandthatoftheentrancetothehousebeingopen,onaccountofthefinenessoftheweather,apoorblackcatenteredhastily,satdownonthecarpetbythetable,lookeduptowardsus,andmewedpiteously。Ineverhadseensowretchedalookingcreature。Itwasdreadfullyattenuated,beinglittlemorethanskinandbone,andwassorelyafflictedwithaneruptivemalady。AndhereImayaswellrelatethehistoryofthiscatprevioustoourarrivalwhichIsubsequentlylearnedbybitsandsnatches。IthadbelongedtoapreviousvicarofLlangollen,andhadbeenleftbehindathisdeparture。Hissuccessorbroughtwithhimdogsandcats,who,conceivingthatthelatevicar’scathadnobusinessatthevicarage,droveitforthtoseekanotherhome,which,however,itcouldnotfind。Almostallthepeopleofthesuburbweredissenters,asindeedwerethegeneralityofthepeopleofLlangollen,andknowingthecattobeachurchcat,notonlywouldnotharbourit,butdidalltheycouldtomakeitmiserable;whilstthefewwhowerenotdissenters,wouldnotreceiveitintotheirhouses,eitherbecausetheyhadcatsoftheirown,ordogs,ordidnotwantacat,sothatthecathadnohomeandwasdreadfullypersecutedbynine—tenthsofthesuburb。Oh,thereneverwasacatsopersecutedasthatpoorChurchofEnglandanimal,andsolelyonaccountoftheopinionswhichitwassupposedtohaveimbibedinthehouseofitslatemaster,forInevercouldlearnthatthedissentersofthesuburb,norindeedofLlangolleningeneral,wereinthehabitofpersecutingothercats;thecatwasaChurchofEnglandcat,andthatwasenough:stoneit,hangit,drownit!

werethecriesofalmosteverybody。Iftheworkmenoftheflannelfactory,allofwhomwereCalvinistic—Methodists,chancedtogetaglimpseofitintheroadfromthewindowsofthebuilding,theywouldsallyforthinabody,andwithsticks,stones,orforwantofotherweapons,withclotsofhorsedung,ofwhichtherewasalwaysplentyontheroad,wouldchaseitupthehighbankorperhapsovertheCamlas;theinhabitantsofasmallstreetbetweenourhouseandthefactoryleadingfromtheroadtotheriver,allofwhomweredissenters,iftheysawitmovingabouttheperllan,intowhichtheirbackwindowslooked,wouldshriekandhootatit,andflinganythingofnovalue,whichcameeasilytohand,attheheadorbodyoftheecclesiasticalcat。Thegoodwomanofthehouse,whothoughaveryexcellentperson,wasabitterdissenter,whenevershesawituponhergroundorhearditwasthere,wouldmakeafterit,frequentlyattendedbyhermaidMargaret,andheryoungson,aboyaboutnineyearsofage,bothofwhomhatedthecat,andwerealwaysreadytoattackit,eitheraloneorincompany,andnowonder,themaidbeingnotonlyadissenter,butaclassteacher,andtheboynotonlyadissenter,butintendedforthedissentingministry。Whereitgotitsfood,andfooditsometimesmusthavegot,forevenacat,ananimalknowntohaveninelives,cannotlivewithoutfood,wasonlyknowntoitself,aswastheplacewhereitlay,forevenacatmustliedownsometimes;

thoughalabouringmanwhooccasionallyduginthegardentoldmehebelievedthatinthespringtimeitatefreshets,andthewomanofthehouseoncesaidthatshebelieveditsometimessleptinthehedge,whichhedge,by—the—bye,dividedourperllanfromthevicaragegrounds,whichwereveryextensive。Wellmightthecatafterhavingledthiskindoflifeforbetterthantwoyearslookmereskinandbonewhenitmadeitsappearanceinourapartment,andhaveaneruptivemalady,andalsoabronchiticcough,forI

rememberithadboth。Howitcametomakeitsappearancethereisamystery,forithadneverenteredthehousebefore,evenwhentherewerelodgers;thatitshouldnotvisitthewoman,whowasitsdeclaredenemy,wasnaturalenough,butwhyifitdidnotvisitherotherlodgers,diditvisitus?Didinstinctkeepitalooffromthem?Didinstinctdrawittowardsus?Wegaveitsomebread—and—

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