should like to have one eye torn out by pincers, and the other punched in by rule." We have angled-not without loss of temper-from very restless animals; yet 'tis perhaps more trying to hook a first-class trout from a quadruped plunged in profoundest sleep. A third case is, that of your sleep-walker-but we shall not now discuss it, as its introduction would render the question too complicate. As long as the hookee kept in the present pool, 'twas well that Colonsay heard no "voice cry to all the house-Sleep no moreColons doth murder sleep." We found our advantage in his unupbraiding conscience. But as soon as his majesty set off to seek refuge in his distant dominions, we wished that Somnus had lashed Colonsay with a whip of scorpions. The fugitive king had it then all his own way, like a bull in a china-shop. Conservatives as we have ever been, we felt that the power of the Crown had increased, was increasing, and ought to be diminished; but where lay the board of control? Had he reposed due confidence in the loyalty of the silent people of the provinces, and trusted to the strongholds remote from the capital, he might been at this day on the throne. But his heart misgave him-and he came back of his own accord to his own and the Naiads' Palace. Even then he might have saved his life by taking the sulks. But he was, though of a fearful, of a fiery nature; he knew not when to make resistance and when to yield; and the consequence was, that in twenty minutes from the time his tongue first felt the barb, he turned up his yellow side, and floated shorewards" fat, and scant of breath." Even then a wallop might have been his salvation; but he had not spirit to make one;-and Bobby Partridge-who had been in vain trying the worm-fortunately making his appearance just at that moment with his well-known dodgingstep along the banks-he dipped in his landing-net, and brought the Brobdingnag into another element, all shining with stars and crosses and orders, like some great naval commander. His weight is uncertain-for he never was in any scales but his own; but when pressed well down into our creel, his snout and tail were visible and we had to fasten the lid, not with peg, but twine. Yet was he not a grey trout, as our few descriptive touches have already shewn-but a true son of Winander-of the line of the mottled monarchs who have therein disputed sovereignty with the long jawed race of Jacks for many thousand years. Just then Colonsay must have been experiencing in his sleep one of those not unsublime sensations that sometimes suddenly assail the slumberer, falling over the edge of a precipice, or off a weathercock on a spire. For springing several feet into the air, faster than any thought of ours he gave the side-spang, and had almost realized his dream. Another hand-breadth, and he had toppled into the Naiads' Palace. Hurra! Sammy Sitwell-standing on the stirrups-and working like Tommy Lye-comes flashing round the edge of the wood, on his return from High Skelwith; Colonsay, having shaken off his somnolency, joins issue; and once more the Match! the Match! We met on the bridge-and nothing could be fairer than the junction-start. But, alas! on beginning to make play, we made a discovery which, under any circumstances and on any horse, would have been unfortunate, in our present predicament likely to prove fatal. Colonsay had a knack-a sleight of tongue by which he could slip, ad libitum, almost any bit out of his mouth; and as we had forgotten to tighten the buckles, there hung the snaffle outside his jaws; and with a bridle so adjusted, what could Castor himself have done? No more than Julius Cæsar, who used, in his hot youth, to go, like the old one, without saddle, with his face to the horse's tail, and his hands tied behind his back. However, we said nothing, and hasted to the crowd which we knew must be collected in Ambleside whither we were now going like a couple of comets. How we rattled along Rottenrow! Benson's smithy right opposite-and a crowd of carts! Sam grew white on the jowl as a sheet. "Hold hard! pull up or we shall be smashed"we cried in no feigned alarm; he did so with a skill we could not but admire-and Colonsay, taking all things into consideration, judged it advisable to follow the example of the Shuffler-and thus no lives were sacrificed-nor was the old woman dangerously hurt, though her stall lost a leg, and there was a stramash among the gingerbread kings. The poor Shuffler mare, though pretty fresh, was now discovered to be, nevertheless, in rather doleful dumps. Of her four shoes she had lost two, somewhere or other, up among the mountains, and the remaining pair were held by a very precarious tenure. Mr Benson had a hind-leg on his hip in a jiffey-and then a fore-leg; the pincers did their duty; and now all-fours were as free from iron as the day she first saw the light. But here again our magnanimity shone out in all its native lustre. We scorned to take advantage of a series of losses that might have befallen ourselves, and resolved to stay by Sitwell, who, as far as we had had an opportunity to observe, had hitherto conducted himself during the match with considerable candour, and never broken into a gallop on the direct line of operation. We had no right to object to each other's by-play. We declare on our honour and conscience and after the lapse of twenty years, more or less, our country will not be incredulous-that neither by voice nor look did we give Mr Benson any hint how to reshoe the Shuffler. True, we had long been good friends-wags calling him Vulcan and us Apollo-but with his style of shoeing we never interfered, though on this occasion the issue proved it to be worthy, not of our admiration only, but of our gratitude. And who should make their appearance at the smithy-door, during the refit, but our dear friend, Green, the artist of the clouds, in company with Hills, the celebrated cattleist, and Havel, then at the head of the water-colourists-all three great geniuses and as pleasant men, each in his own way, as ever leaned elbow on the social board. They had been out all morning with their portfolios but now was the time for them to make themselves immortal-for what a subject for a grand historical Composition! No need for any sounding name-call it simply, the Smithy Door. We beseeched the main group, of which we were indeed ourselves the centre, and all the subordinate and accessory breakings-off but belongings-to it, to remain just as they were at that moment for the picture stood there already composed by the Spirit of the Scene. All the three fortunate youths had to do was to transfer it to paper. Nay-look at it almost from what point you willed, still 'twas a picture! In perfect power operated there the principle of the pyramid! Green eyed the scene askance, and planted his tripod near the door of Mr Brownrigg, the shoemaker, so that to the right he might get in his favourite pines-among the loftiest in England and to the left, as many of those old overhanging roofs and galleried gables as the power of perspective might steal from the ancient Ambleside, yet leave her rich as ever in all most beautiful to artist's or poet's eyes. He had to take Us in front, but we could well bear foreshortening; and it has been generally thought that our face is finest in full view without shadow, and so would have felt even Rembrandt. Some children had gathered in a group-oh! how graceful still art thou, pure simple nature! and encouraged by the benign physiognomy of Colonsay, one of them was holding up to him a bunch of wild-flowers, which he kept mumbling with his long lip, just to shew his sense of the fair creature's kindness and how all their rosy faces smiled as he scented the moss-rose buds, the earliest of the perfect year! Hills, again, studied the scene from the Cock-a pleasant Inn-itself a jewel. Taken from that point too, we were still the central figure-but we exhibited a back-front-nor had we any reason to be ashamed of our shoulders, nor Colonsay of his rear-harmonious in their apt proportions. Shuffler and Sam, in their airy slimness, contrasted well with strength columnar; and imagination peopled the void between the visible extremes of horse with many an intermediate kind of that most useful and ornamental of all animals. A few human figures, and a couple of curs, were hastily sketched inand 'twas wonderful what an effect was produced by the skilful introduction of a cuddy, pacing leisurely our verted the forward into the backward, and as if his tail had been his head, set off smithy-wards, oversetting much of the crowd; nor was it possible for us to restrain his impetuosity-for the harder we pulled, the greater acceleration he acquired till he broke into such a gallop as will never be forgotten by those who had the good fortune to behold it till their dying day! by with his panniers, nor, in the midst of all the animation, so much as once lifting his eyes from the ground. But where sat Havel? Removed some way down in front, just opposite pretty Miss Preston's millinery-shop, whence the scene assumed the shape of a circle, and fancy had room to play with feeling, and imagination to expatiate among all possibilities of the picturesque, without losing sight of the main in- And were Sam and the Shuffler cidents and characters that gave an smashed to death by the live timber historical interest to the whole. Ne--for alive it was, or it never could ver was Havel more happy! There they hang-all the three sketchesand though cheerful the scene in itself, and mirth and merriment on every countenance, it grows indistinct before our old eyes-not that they are always dim, but hope is not now so ready with her sunshine as memory with her tears. But the scene was sketched, and the Shuffler shoed-and the street, far as the eye could reach, cleared for the start. That was not very far-for the houses, as if desirous to see the fun, had stolen insensibly forwards, and the willow before poor Green's door overhung the road more than usual, as it closed the vista. What carts might lie beyond we knew and cared not, only we hoped they might not be loaded with timber. Yet hope, we felt, was strangely like fear but "off-off" was the cry-and the crowd could not contain their admiration at the style in which we rose in our stirrups! "North for ever!" "Sammy for a shilling!" "Done, done, done!" But the shew of hands was in our favour ten to one; and had the times been at all political in those parts which, thank heaven, they were not -we should have been carried for the county. Three wood-waggons loaded skyhigh from Rydal Forest with oak! Coming down hill so as to occupy the whole area of the market-place -and we meeting them at a trot fast as any gallop! Far advanced beyond them all was King Log threatening the firmament. Colonsay "stooped his anointed head as low as death," to avoid destruction-and with a single coup d'œil, seeing the impossibility of breaking even the weakest part of the line, with miraculous command over motion, con have swung itself about in that way -or crushed beneath the wooden wheels of waggons, each worse than the car of Juggernaut? Not they. The mare had hunted with Meynel, and was a treasure at timber. The northernmost waggon near the Old Cross drooped its tail to within five feet of the ground, and Sam, who was as skilful as fearless, shoved her at it, at the critical moment just ere it rose again, cleared it like winking, and disappeared! In no long time Colonsay perceived that he was not going in his usual way, and returned to the charge. Now the waggons had been drawn up, so as to leave a lane for our transit, and we again made play. Our dangers, it was not unreasonable to hope, might be mostly over; but we could not conceal from ourselves that we had many difficulties still to encounter-and one we saw even now was at hand. For some years we had made it a practice, more honoured in the observance than the breach, never to pass the Salutation Inn, without shaking hands, and taking a horn of ale with the worthy landlord, our friend Wilcock; and there he stood on the steps! With great presence of mind he ordered a band of haymakers to form a line, two deep, on the brow of the hill, the front rank kneeling, with rakes, like muskets with fixed bayonets, to receive and repel the expected charge. But Mrs Rennyson's heart gave way-and Colonsay, availing himself of a weak point, broke through, and made good his customary position below the sign. Nan was ready with the ale-three horns-one for Mr North, one for her master, and one, larger than the largest size, for Colonsay, who took his malt as kindly as the best Chris tian that ever turned up a little finger. Business being despatched, he gave his head a shake, as much as to say, "Good-by," and set off neighing in pursuit of the Shuffler. We had now found out the pace that best suited such a contest-a steady long swinging trot-six feet or thereabouts at a stride-and we were only afraid we should too soon overtake Sam. That fear, however, we had reason to dismiss the moment it arose; for lo! on the crown of the hill-where the road turns off perpendicularly to Kirkstone—a jaunting-car, two gigs, a shandry dan, horsemen and horsewomen all gaily bedecked with white ribands and stars on their breasts-a marriage-party Tom Earle of Easdale and Rose Allardyce of Gold-rill-green-accompanied with their cortège-about to be made one by Parson Crakelt in Ambleside Church! Will the world believe us when we say that we had utterly forgotten our engagement formed a week before-to officiate as Groom's Man? But Fortuna favet fortibus-and there we were providentially at the very nick of time. To be sure, our dress was not just quite the thing-being better adapted for one match than the other; but Mr Earle would not hear of our proposal to exchange it, temporarily, for the apparel of one of his friends, who had to fill a subordinate situation-so just as we were, except that we dowsed the pink cap, we accompanied the joyous assemblage to the Church. A nobler-looking pair never stood before the altar. Tom had thrown all the best men in the ring-and was certainly the most elegant wrestler ever seen in the North of England. Yet like all perfectly proportioned men, he shewed no signs of extraordinary strength, nay, seemed almost slender, though on Mount Ida he could have contended with Paris. A milder countenance or a sunnier you could not see on a summer's day; and intellect of no common kind was enthroned on that lofty forehead, radiant through clouds of curls dark as the raven's wing. And if Tom Earle "gave the world assurance of a MAN," so did Rose Allardyce of a woman. None of your tiny thread-paper, artificial fairy-crea tures, whom you may dance on your thumb, and care not though they were to evanish over your shoulder like shadows among the lady-fern; but a substantial flesh-and-blood, bright and breathing, beautiful human being-fit for the wear and tear of life-and come what may of weal and woe-grateful to enjoy and content to suffer-one of the "Sound healthy children of the God of heaven who, in the dark hour, with a single smile, can bring the rainbow over a cloud of tears. It was with such thoughts and feelings as these pleasantly passing through our heart, not without a shade of awe, that we saw an old grey-headed man-not her father— for she was an orphan-give away the bride. Nothing can be better than the marriage ceremony-nor indeed every other part of the ritual of the Church of England-a service which you may seek to improve, after you have brightened up a bit and reduced to order the stars. And now that it was over, Rose seemed even a sweeter flower. Her blushes had left her cheeks somewhat paler than their wont-but the colour returned at the bridegroom's kissand that kiss was a signal for us not to be idle-so we put Tom gently aside, and, "preein' her bonny mou'," we went smacking our way round the circle-an example which was no sooner set than followed by the rest of the congregation, while the winged cherubs on the walls laughed as if they had been so many Cupids, and a Saint, who looked for usual rather grim, grew gay as a Hymen. The improvements, as they are called, of modern science, have, even in mountainous countries, reduced, alas! most of the roads, once so precipitous, to nearly a dead level! It was not so in Westmoreland in the age of the Match. Bear witness from the stony world of the past, Thou Descent out of Ambleside! And where now can you find a truly sharp turn? All smoothed meanly off, without "mark or likelihood," against which it is next to impossible to capsize! True, that people get killed yet-but "then 'tis the rate that does it;" and bridges are so built now, that not one coach in a million leaps the ledge-in the times we write of, an almost daily occurrence. But 'tis in vain to complain. Down that Descent out of Ambleside, now drove like blazes the nuptial cavalcade. None of the party were great whips-but they all knew well how to manage the reins. They flung them loose on their coursers' backs-simply taking care not to let them get entangled with tails. The young couple led the way in the car, then a novelty-the gigs were in the centre-and the shandrydan rattled in the rear. A squadron of cavalry cleared the road before the carriages, and, with our usual prudence, we followed the wheels. Not that we saw them, for seldom have we been enveloped in a denser cloud of dust. But we heard them, and so should we had we been all but stone-deaf. Think not that we consulted our own safety in not joining the vanguard. For though we were a single man, Colonsay now carried double the bride's-maid was behind us, with her soft arm round our waist-and for her sake we blessed our stars that we had that day mounted a crupper. We knew it was mid-day, but in the heart of the whirlwind 'twas nearly night. We could have believed, oh! fond dream of an enamoured fancy! that we were a young Arab, carrying away on the desertborn his sole child from a chieftain's tent! The noise died away like thunder behind a hill-the atmosphere be came clearer, and we were aware of entering a wood. Colonsay affected silvan scenery," and, path or no path, what cared he ?" was bearing his now precious burden into the forestgloom. Sweet Hannah became alarmed, but we calmed her fears, and she was calm," for no evil thought was in our heart—“ no maiden lays her scathe to us," and say, ye Dryads who dwell in the blessed woods of Westmoreland, and have seen us a thousand times roaming not unaccompanied through all their glades, if you know not well that in our eyes-worshippers as we were of all beauty-the holiest thing under heaven was confiding Innocence ! Colonsay stood still as a lamb in the centre of a circle of greensward, that had many years ago been the site of a charcoal burning; and it almost always happens that out of the works of industry busying itself in the woods, arises a new character of beauty, retaining, without any loss to the charm of nature, an almost im perceptible touch-a faint vestige of art. So was it here. A Poet (but are we a poet?)-could not have created so still a spot out of the soft leaves of sleep. The foliage looked as if it had never known but the vernal breath of Dream-land. Yet what were they but simple hazelsthe commonest wood that growsand nothing, we have heard it said, can be very beautiful that is not somewhat rare-a saying that the infant morning can refute, by shaking from the foxglove millions of lovelier pearls than ever were brought up by diver from Indian seas. But though the coppice was of hazel, high overhead, and far around, an oak-too old to let us think of its age-diffused almost a twilight. Yet not so solemn as to hush the glad linnets' lays-and wide they warbled, while each brooding bird listened but to its own mate, and heard but the hymn meant for its own nest. And now all are mute-as if hushed by a profounder hymeneal song; for from some uncertain far-off place the cushat coos-and silence is listening along with us to the passionate music so full all the while of affection -Ah! heard'st thou ever, Hannah ! a sound so sweet with love, and so strong with faith-is there not a spell in the word conjugal — and thinkest thou not-my child-that more delightful than to be bridesmaid-though this is the happiest holiday in thy life-would it be in a few months or so-to be thyself the Bride? But we must make no revelation of the tender colloquy that there ensued-let it suffice to say, that we promised to be present at the marriage which we found was to be in September. "See, sir-the bonny Con!" And there sat a pert squirrel on a mossy bough, who had overheard every word we said, and was now mocking us with antic grimaces, while his brush curled gracefully over his head, and his bright burnished fur shewed that he was the beau of the woods. Colonsay, |