|
|
Page 79:-
out. There was great alarm and lamentation; but, as it could
not be helped now, the good man patiently sat his horse in
the pasture for a day or two, his family bringing him food,
till the eldest son, vexed to see the horse suffering by
exposure, proposed to bring both into the stable. This was
done; and there sat the farmer for several days,- his food
being brought to him, as before. At length, it struck the
second son that it was a pity not to make his father useful,
and release the horse; so he proposed to carry him, on the
saddle, into the house. By immense exertion it was done; the
horse being taken alongside the midden in the yard, to ease
the fall: and the good man found himself under his own roof
again,- spinning wool in a corner of the kitchen. There the
mounted man sat spinning, through the cleverness of his
second son, till the lucky hour arrived of his youngest
son's return,- he being a scholar,- a learned student from
St. Bees. After duly considering the case, he gave his
counsel. He suggested that the goodman should draw his feet
out of his shoes. This was done, amidst the blessings of the
family; and the goodman was restored to his occupations and
to liberty. The wife was so delighted that she said if she
had a score of children, she would make them all scholars,-
if only she had to begin life again.
|
|
|
It is by no means to be supposed, however, that there was no
wit in the valley, but what had come from St. Bees. On the
contrary, a native genius, on one occasion, came to a
conclusion so striking that it is doubtful whether any
university could rival it. A stranger came riding into the
dale on a mule, and, being
|
Lakes Guides menu.
