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far to cleanse himself in the pool behind Kirk Yetton。



A trade that touches nature; one that lies at the foundations of 

life; in which we have all had ancestors employed; so that on a 

hint of it ancestral memories revive; lends itself to literary use; 

vocal or written。  The fortune of a tale lies not alone in the 

skill of him that writes; but as much; perhaps; in the inherited 

experience of him who reads; and when I hear with a particular 

thrill of things that I have never done or seen; it is one of that 

innumerable army of my ancestors rejoicing in past deeds。  Thus 

novels begin to touch not the fine DILETTANTI but the gross mass of 

mankind; when they leave off to speak of parlours and shades of 

manner and still…born niceties of motive; and begin to deal with 

fighting; sailoring; adventure; death or childbirth; and thus 

ancient outdoor crafts and occupations; whether Mr。 Hardy wields 

the shepherd's crook or Count Tolstoi swings the scythe; lift 

romance into a near neighbourhood with epic。  These aged things 

have on them the dew of man's morning; they lie near; not so much 

to us; the semi…artificial flowerets; as to the trunk and 

aboriginal taproot of the race。  A thousand interests spring up in 

the process of the ages; and a thousand perish; that is now an 

eccentricity or a lost art which was once the fashion of an empire; 

and those only are perennial matters that rouse us to…day; and that 

roused men in all epochs of the past。  There is a certain critic; 

not indeed of execution but of matter; whom I dare be known to set 

before the best: a certain low…browed; hairy gentleman; at first a 

percher in the fork of trees; next (as they relate) a dweller in 

caves; and whom I think I see squatting in cave…mouths; of a 

pleasant afternoon; to munch his berries … his wife; that 

accomplished lady; squatting by his side: his name I never heard; 

but he is often described as Probably Arboreal; which may serve for 

recognition。  Each has his own tree of ancestors; but at the top of 

all sits Probably Arboreal; in all our veins there run some minims 

of his old; wild; tree…top blood; our civilised nerves still tingle 

with his rude terrors and pleasures; and to that which would have 

moved our common ancestor; all must obediently thrill。



We have not so far to climb to come to shepherds; and it may be I 

had one for an ascendant who has largely moulded me。  But yet I 

think I owe my taste for that hillside business rather to the art 

and interest of John Todd。  He it was that made it live for me; as 

the artist can make all things live。  It was through him the simple 

strategy of massing sheep upon a snowy evening; with its attendant 

scampering of earnest; shaggy aides…de…champ; was an affair that I 

never wearied of seeing; and that I never weary of recalling to 

mind: the shadow of the night darkening on the hills; inscrutable 

black blots of snow shower moving here and there like night already 

come; huddles of yellow sheep and dartings of black dogs upon the 

snow; a bitter air that took you by the throat; unearthly harpings 

of the wind along the moors; and for centre piece to all these 

features and influences; John winding up the brae; keeping his 

captain's eye upon all sides; and breaking; ever and again; into a 

spasm of bellowing that seemed to make the evening bleaker。  It is 

thus that I still see him in my mind's eye; perched on a hump of 

the declivity not far from Halkerside; his staff in airy flourish; 

his great voice taking hold upon the hills and echoing terror to 

the lowlands; I; meanwhile; standing somewhat back; until the fit 

should be over; and; with a pinch of snuff; my friend relapse into 

his easy; even conversation。









CHAPTER VII。 THE MANSE





I HAVE named; among many rivers that make music in my memory; that 

dirty Water of Leith。  Often and often I desire to look upon it 

again; and the choice of a point of view is easy to me。  It should 

be at a certain water…door; embowered in shrubbery。  The river is 

there dammed back for the service of the flour…mill just below; so 

that it lies deep and darkling; and the sand slopes into brown 

obscurity with a glint of gold; and it has but newly been recruited 

by the borrowings of the snuff…mill just above; and these; tumbling 

merrily in; shake the pool to its black heart; fill it with drowsy 

eddies; and set the curded froth of many other mills solemnly 

steering to and fro upon the surface。  Or so it was when I was 

young; for change; and the masons; and the pruning…knife; have been 

busy; and if I could hope to repeat a cherished experience; it must 

be on many and impossible conditions。  I must choose; as well as 

the point of view; a certain moment in my growth; so that the scale 

may be exaggerated; and the trees on the steep opposite side may 

seem to climb to heaven; and the sand by the water…door; where I am 

standing; seem as low as Styx。  And I must choose the season also; 

so that the valley may be brimmed like a cup with sunshine and the 

songs of birds; … and the year of grace; so that when I turn to 

leave the riverside I may find the old manse and its inhabitants 

unchanged。



It was a place in that time like no other: the garden cut into 

provinces by a great hedge of beech; and over…looked by the church 

and the terrace of the churchyard; where the tombstones were thick; 

and after nightfall 〃spunkies〃 might be seen to dance at least by 

children; flower…plots lying warm in sunshine; laurels and the 

great yew making elsewhere a pleasing horror of shade; the smell of 

water rising from all round; with an added tang of paper…mills; the 

sound of water everywhere; and the sound of mills … the wheel and 

the dam singing their alternate strain; the birds on every bush and 

from every corner of the overhanging woods pealing out their notes 

until the air throbbed with them; and in the midst of this; the 

manse。  I see it; by the standard of my childish stature; as a 

great and roomy house。  In truth; it was not so large as I 

supposed; nor yet so convenient; and; standing where it did; it is 

difficult to suppose that it was healthful。  Yet a large family of 

stalwart sons and tall daughters were housed and reared; and came 

to man and womanhood in that nest of little chambers; so that the 

face of the earth was peppered with the children of the manse; and 

letters with outlandish stamps became familiar to the local 

postman; and the walls of the little chambers brightened with the 

wonders of the East。  The dullest could see this was a house that 

had a pair of hands in divers foreign places: a well…beloved house 

… its image fondly dwelt on by many travellers。



Here lived an ancestor of mine; who was a herd of men。  I read him; 

judging with older criticism the report of childish observation; as 

a man of singular simplicity of nature; unemotional; and hating the 

display of what he felt; standing contented on the old ways; a 

lover of his life and innocent habits to the end。  We children 

admired him: partly for his beautiful face and silver hair; for 

none more than children are concerned for beauty and; above all; 

for beauty in the old; partly for the solemn light in which we 

beheld him once a week; the observed of all observers; in the 

pulpit。  But his strictness and distance; the effect; I now fancy; 

of old age; slow blood; and settled habit; oppressed us with a kind 

of terror。  When not abroad; he sat much alone; writing sermons or 

letters to his scattered family in a dark and cold room with a 

library of bloodless books … or so they seemed in those days; 

although I have some of them now on my own shelves and like well 

enough to read them; and these lonely hours wrapped him in the 

greater gloom for our imaginations。  But the study had a redeeming 

grace in many Indian pictures; gaudily coloured and dear to young 

eyes。  I cannot de

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