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diff --git a/22846-h/22846-h.htm b/22846-h/22846-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d41bf15 --- /dev/null +++ b/22846-h/22846-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,907 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Ground-ash, by Mary Russell Mitford + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ground-Ash, by Mary Russell Mitford + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Ground-Ash + +Author: Mary Russell Mitford + +Release Date: October 2, 2007 [EBook #22846] +Last Updated: January 9, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GROUND-ASH *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + THE GROUND-ASH + </h1> + <h2> + By Mary Russell Mitford + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Amongst the many pleasant circumstances attendant on a love of flowers—that + sort of love which leads us into the woods for the earliest primrose, or + to the river side for the latest forget-me-not, and carries us to the + parching heath or the watery mere to procure for the cultivated, or, if I + may use the expression, the <i>tame</i> beauties of the parterre, the soil + that they love; amongst the many gratifications which such pursuits bring + with them, such as seeing in the seasons in which it shows best, the + prettiest, coyest, most unhackneyed scenery, and taking, with just motive + enough for stimulus and for reward, drives and walks which approach to + fatigue, without being fatiguing; amongst all the delights consequent on a + love of flowers, I know none greater than the half unconscious and wholly + unintended manner in which such expeditions make us acquainted with the + peasant children of remote and out-of-the-way regions, the inhabitants of + the wild woodlands and still wilder commons of the hilly part of the north + of Hampshire, which forms so strong a contrast with this sunny and + populous county of Berks, whose very fields are gay and neat as gardens, + and whose roads are as level and even as a gravel-walk. + </p> + <p> + Two of the most interesting of these flower-formed acquaintances, were my + little friends Harry and Bessy Leigh. + </p> + <p> + Every year I go to the Everley woods to gather wild lilies of the valley. + It is one of the delights that May—the charming, ay, and the merry + month of May, which I love as fondly as ever that bright and joyous season + was loved by our older poets—regularly brings in her train; one of + those rational pleasures in which (and it is the great point of + superiority over pleasures that are artificial and worldly) there is no + disappointment. About four years ago, I made such a visit. The day was + glorious, and we had driven through lanes perfumed by the fresh green + birch, with its bark silvery and many-tinted, and over commons where the + very air was loaded with the heavy fragrance of the furze, an odour + resembling in richness its golden blossoms, just as the scent of the birch + is cool, refreshing, and penetrating, like the exquisite colour of its + young leaves, until we reached the top of the hill, where, on one side, + the enclosed wood, where the lilies grow, sank gradually, in an + amphitheatre of natural terraces, to a piece of water at the bottom; + whilst on the other, the wild open heath formed a sort of promontory + overhanging a steep ravine, through which a slow and sluggish stream crept + along amongst stunted alders, until it was lost in the deep recesses of + Lidhurst Forest, over the tall trees of which we literally looked down. We + had come without a servant; and on arriving at the gate of the wood with + neither human figure nor human habitation in sight, and a high-blooded and + high-spirited horse in the phaeton, we began to feel all the awkwardness + of our situation. My companion, however, at length espied a thin wreath of + smoke issuing from a small clay-built hut thatched with furze, built + against the steepest part of the hill, of which it seemed a mere + excrescence, about half way down the declivity; and, on calling aloud, two + children, who had been picking up dry stumps of heath and gorse, and + collecting them in a heap for fuel at the door of their hovel, first + carefully deposited their little load, and then came running to know what + we wanted. + </p> + <p> + If we had wondered to see human beings living in a habitation, which, both + for space and appearance, would have been despised by a pig of any + pretension, as too small and too mean for his accommodation, so we were + again surprised at the strange union of poverty and content evinced by the + apparel and countenances of its young inmates. The children, bareheaded + and barefooted, and with little more clothing than one shabby-looking + garment, were yet as fine, sturdy, hardy, ruddy, sunburnt urchins, as one + should see on a summer day. They were clean, too: the stunted bit of + raiment was patched, but not ragged; and when the girl, (for, although it + was rather difficult to distinguish between the brother and sister, the + pair were of different sexes,) when the bright-eyed, square-made, upright + little damsel clasped her two brown hands together, on the top of her + head, pressed down her thick curls, looking at us and listening to us with + an air of the most intelligent attention that returned our curiosity with + interest; and when the boy, in answer to our inquiry if he could hold a + horse, clutched the reins with his small fingers, and planted himself + beside our high-mettled steed with an air of firm determination, that + seemed to say, "I'm your master! Run away if you dare!" we both of us felt + that they were subjects for a picture, and that, though Sir Joshua might + not have painted them, Gainsborough and our own Collins would. + </p> + <p> + But besides their exceeding picturesqueness, the evident content, and + helpfulness, and industry of these little creatures, was delightful to + look at and to think of. In conversation they were at once very civil and + respectful (Bessy dropping her little curtsy, and Harry putting his hand + to the lock of hair where the hat should have been, at every sentence they + uttered) and perfectly frank and unfearing. In answer to our questions, + they told us that "Father was a broom-maker, from the low country; that he + had come to these parts and married mother, and built their cottage, + because houses were so scarce hereabouts, and because of its convenience + to the heath; that they had done very well till the last winter, when poor + father had had the fever for five months, and they had had much ado to get + on; but that father was brave again now, and was building <i>another house</i> + (house!!) larger and finer, upon Squire Benson's lands: the squire had + promised them a garden from the waste, and mother hoped to keep a pig. + They were trying to get all the money they could to buy the pig; and what + his honour had promised them for holding the horse, was all to be given to + mother for that purpose." + </p> + <p> + It was impossible not to be charmed with these children. We went again and + again to the Everley wood, partly to gather lilies, partly to rejoice in + the trees with their young leaves so beautiful in texture as well as in + colour, but chiefly to indulge ourselves in the pleasure of talking to the + children, of adding something to their scanty stock of clothing, (Bessy + ran as fast as her feet could carry her to the clear pool at the bottom of + the wood, to look at herself in her new bonnet,) and of assisting in the + accumulations of the Grand Pig Savings' Bank, by engaging Harry to hold + the horse, and Bessy to help fill the lily basket. + </p> + <p> + This employment, by showing that the lilies had a money value, put a new + branch of traffic into the heads of these thoughtful children, already + accustomed to gather heath for their father's brooms, and to collect the + dead furze which served as fuel to the family. After gaining permission of + the farmer who rented the wood, and ascertaining that we had no objection, + they set about making nosegays of the flowers, and collecting the roots + for sale, and actually stood two Saturdays in Belford market (the smallest + merchants of a surety that ever appeared in that rural Exchange) to + dispose of their wares; having obtained a cast in a waggon there and back, + and carrying home faithfully every penny of their gainings, to deposit in + the common stock. + </p> + <p> + The next year we lost sight of them. No smoke issued from the small + chimney by the hill-side. The hut itself was half demolished by wind and + weather; its tenants had emigrated to the new house on Squire Benson's + land; and after two or three attempts to understand and to follow the + directions as to the spot given us by the good farmer at Everley, we were + forced to give up the search. + </p> + <p> + Accident, the great discoverer and recoverer of lost goods, at last + restored to us these good little children. It happened as follows:— + </p> + <p> + In new potting some large hydrangeas, we were seized with a desire to give + the blue tinge to the petals, which so greatly improves the beauty of that + fine bold flower, and which is so desirable when they are placed, as these + were destined to be, in the midst of red and pink blossoms, fuchsias, + salvias, and geraniums. Accordingly, we sallied forth to a place called + the Moss, a wild tract of moorland lying about a mile to the right of the + road to Everley, and famous for the red bog, produced, I presume, by + chalybeate springs, which, when mixed with the fine Bagshot silver sand, + is so effectual in changing the colour of flowers. + </p> + <p> + It was a bleak gusty day in February, raining by fits, but not with + sufficient violence to deter me from an expedition to which I had taken a + fancy. Putting up, therefore, the head and apron of the phaeton, and + followed by one lad (the shrewd boy Dick) on horseback, and another (John, + the steady gardening youth) in a cart laden with tubs and sacks, spades + and watering-pots, to procure and contain the bog mould, (for we were + prudently determined to provide for all emergencies, and to carry with us + fit receptacles to receive our treasure, whether it presented itself in + the form of red earth or of red mud,) our little procession set forth + early in the afternoon, towards the wildest and most dreary piece of + scenery that I have ever met with in this part of the country. + </p> + <p> + Wild and dreary of a truth was the Moss, and the stormy sky, the moaning + wind, and the occasional gushes of driving rain, suited well with the dark + and cheerless region into which we had entered by a road, if a rude + cart-track may be so called, such as shall seldom be encountered in this + land of Macadamisation. And yet, partly perhaps from their novelty, the + wild day and the wild scenery had for me a strange and thrilling charm. + The ground, covered with the sea-green moss, whence it derived its name, + mingled in the higher parts with brown patches of heather, and dark bushes + of stunted furze, was broken with deep hollows full of stagnant water; + some almost black, others covered with the rusty scum which denoted the + presence of the powerful mineral, upon whose agency we relied for + performing that strange piece of natural magic which may almost be called + the transmutation of flowers. + </p> + <p> + Towards the ruddiest of these pools, situated in a deep glen, our active + coadjutors, leaving phaeton, cart, and horses, on the brow of the hill, + began rolling and tossing the several tubs, buckets, watering-pots, sacks, + and spades, which were destined for the removal and conveyance of the much + coveted-bog; we followed, amused and pleased, as, in certain moods, + physical and mental, people are pleased and amused at self-imposed + difficulties, down the abrupt and broken descent; and for some time the + process of digging among the mould at the edge of the bank went steadily + on. + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes, however, Dick, whose quick and restless eye was never + long bent on any single object, most of all when that object presented + itself in the form of work, exclaimed to his comrade, "Look at those + children wandering about amongst the firs, like the babes in the wood in + the old ballad. What can they be about?" And looking in the direction to + which he pointed, we saw, amidst the gloomy fir plantations, which formed + a dark and massive border nearly round the Moss, our old friends Harry and + Bessy Leigh, collecting, as it seemed, the fir cones with which the ground + was strewed, and depositing them carefully in a large basket. + </p> + <p> + A manful shout from my companion soon brought the children to our side—good, + busy, cheerful, and healthy-looking as ever, and marvellously improved in + the matter of equipment. Harry had been promoted to a cap, which added the + grace of a flourish to his bow; Bessy had added the luxury of a pinafore + to her nondescript garments; and both pairs of little feet were advanced + to the certain dignity, although somewhat equivocal comfort, of shoes and + stockings. + </p> + <p> + The world had gone well with them, and with their parents. The house was + built. Upon remounting the hill, and advancing a little farther into the + centre of the Moss, we saw the comfortable low-browed cottage, full of + light and shadow, of juttings out, and corners and angles of every sort + and description, with a garden stretching along the side, backed and + sheltered by the tall impenetrable plantation, a wall of trees, against + whose dark masses a wreath of light smoke was curling, whose fragrance + seemed really to perfume the winter air. The pig had been bought, fatted, + and killed; but other pigs were inhabiting the sty, almost as large as + their former dwelling, which stood at the end of their garden; and the + children told with honest joy how all this prosperity had come about. + Their father, taking some brooms to my kind friend Lady Denys, had seen + some of the ornamental baskets used for flowers upon a lawn, and had been + struck with the fancy of trying to make some, decorated with fir cones; + and he had been so successful in this profitable manufacture, that he had + more orders than he could execute. Lady Denys had also, with + characteristic benevolence, put the children to her Sunday-school. One + misfortune had a little overshadowed the sunshine. Squire Benson had died, + and the consent to the erection of the cottage being only verbal, the + attorney who managed for the infant heir, a ward in Chancery, had claimed + the property. But the matter had been compromised upon the payment of such + a rent as the present prospects of the family would fairly allow. Besides + collecting fir cones for the baskets, they picked up all they could in + that pine forest, (for it was little less,) and sold such as were + discoloured, or otherwise unfit for working up, to Lady Denys and other + persons who liked the fine aromatic odour of these the pleasantest of + pastilles, in their dressing-room or drawing-room fires. "Did I like the + smell? We had a cart there—might they bring us a hamper-ful?" And it + was with great difficulty that a trifling present (for we did not think of + offering money <i>as payment</i>) could be forced upon the grateful + children. "We," they said, "had been their first friends." For what very + small assistance the poor are often deeply, permanently thankful! Well + says the great poet— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "I've heard of hearts unkind, good deeds + With ill deeds still returning; + Alas, the gratitude of man + Hath oftener left me mourning!" + Wordsworth. +</pre> + <p> + Again for above a year we lost sight of our little favourites, for such + they were with both of us; though absence, indisposition, business, + company—engagements, in short, of many sorts—combined to keep + us from the Moss for upwards of a twelvemonth. Early in the succeeding + April, however, it happened that, discussing with some morning visiters + the course of a beautiful winding brook, (one of the tributaries to the + Loddon, which bright and brimming river has nearly as many sources as the + Nile,) one of them observed that the well-head was in Lanton Wood, and + that it was a bit of scenery more like the burns of the North Countrie (my + visiter was a Northumbrian) than anything he had seen in the south. Surely + I had seen it? I was half ashamed to confess that I had not—(how + often are we obliged to confess that we have not seen the beauties which + lie close to our doors, too near for observation!)—and the next day + proving fine, I determined to repair my omission. + </p> + <p> + It was a soft and balmy April morning, just at that point of the flowery + spring when violets and primroses are lingering under the northern + hedgerows, and cowslips and orchises peeping out upon the sunny banks. My + driver was the clever, shrewd, arch boy Dick; and the first part of our + way lay along the green winding lanes which lead to Everley; we then + turned to the left, and putting up our phaeton at a small farmhouse, where + my attendant (who found acquaintances everywhere) was intimate, we + proceeded to the wood; Dick accompanying me, carrying my flower-basket, + opening the gates, and taking care of my dog Dash, a very beautiful + thorough-bred Old English spaniel, who was a little apt, when he got into + a wood, to run after the game, and forget to come out again. + </p> + <p> + I have seldom seen anything in woodland scenery more picturesque and + attractive than the old coppice of Lanton, on that soft and balmy April + morning. The underwood was nearly cut, and bundles of long split poles for + hooping barrels were piled together against the tall oak trees, bursting + with their sap; whilst piles of faggots were built up in other parts of + the copse, and one or two saw-pits, with light open sheds erected over + them, whence issued the measured sound of the saw and the occasional + voices of the workmen, almost concealed by their subterranean position, + were placed in the hollows. At the far side of the coppice, the operation + of hewing down the underwood was still proceeding, and the sharp strokes + of the axe and the bill, softened by distance, came across the monotonous + jar of the never-ceasing saw. The surface of the ground was prettily + tumbled about, comprehending as pleasant a variety of hill and dale as + could well be comprised in some thirty acres. It declined, however, + generally speaking, towards the centre of the coppice, along which a + small, very small rivulet, scarcely more than a runlet, wound its way in a + thousand graceful meanders. Tracking upward the course of the little + stream, we soon arrived at that which had been the ostensible object of + our drive—the spot whence it sprung. + </p> + <p> + It was a steep irregular acclivity on the highest side of the wood, a + mound, I had almost said a rock, of earth, cloven in two about the middle, + but with so narrow a fissure that the brushwood which grew on either side + nearly filled up the opening, so that the source of the spring still + remained concealed, although the rapid gushing of the water made a + pleasant music in that pleasant place; and here and there a sunbeam, + striking upon the sparkling stream, shone with a bright and glancing light + amidst the dark ivies, and brambles, and mossy stumps of trees, that grew + around. + </p> + <p> + This mound had apparently been cut a year or two ago, so that it presented + an appearance of mingled wildness and gaiety, that contrasted very + agreeably with the rest of the coppice; whose trodden-down flowers I had + grieved over, even whilst admiring the picturesque effect of the + woodcutters and their several operations. Here, however, reigned the + flowery spring in all her glory. Violets, pansies, orchises, oxslips, the + elegant woodsorrel, the delicate wood anemone, and the enamelled wild + hyacinth, were sprinkled profusely amongst the mosses, and lichens, and + dead leaves, which formed so rich a carpet beneath our feet. Primroses, + above all, were there of almost every hue, from the rare and pearly white, + to the deepest pinkish purple, coloured by some diversity of soil, the + pretty freak of nature's gardening; whilst the common yellow blossom—commonest + and prettiest of all—peeped out from amongst the boughs in the stump + of an old willow, like (to borrow the simile of a dear friend, now no + more) a canary bird from its cage. The wild geranium was already showing + its pink stem and scarlet-edged leaves, themselves almost gorgeous enough + to pass for flowers; the periwinkle, with its wreaths of shining foliage, + was hanging in garlands over the precipitous descent; and the lily of the + valley, the fragrant woodroof, and the silvery wild garlick, were just + peeping from the earth in the most sheltered nooks. Charmed to find myself + surrounded by so much beauty, I had scrambled, with much ado, to the top + of the woody cliff, (no other word can convey an idea of its precipitous + abruptness,) and was vainly attempting to trace by my eye the actual + course of the spring, which was, by the clearest evidence of sound, + gushing from the fount many feet below me; when a peculiar whistle of + delight, (for whistling was to Dick, although no ordinary proficient in + our common tongue, another language,) and a tremendous scrambling amongst + the bushes, gave token that my faithful attendant had met with something + as agreeable to his fancy, as the primroses and orchises had proved to + mine. + </p> + <p> + Guided by a repetition of the whistle, I soon saw my trusty adherent + spanning the chasm like a Colossus, one foot on one bank, the other on the + opposite—each of which appeared to me to be resting, so to say, on + nothing—tugging away at a long twig that grew on the brink of the + precipice, and exceedingly likely to resolve the inquiry as to the source + of the Loddon, by plumping souse into the fountain-head. I, of course, + called out to warn him; and he equally, of course, went on with his + labour, without paying the slightest attention to my caution. On the + contrary, having possessed himself of one straight slender twig, which, to + my great astonishment, he wound round his fingers, and deposited in his + pocket, as one should do by a bit of pack-thread, he apparently, during + the operation, caught sight of another. Testifying his delight by a second + whistle, which, having his knife in his mouth, one wonders how he could + accomplish; and scrambling with the fearless daring of a monkey up the + perpendicular bank, supported by strings of ivy, or ledges of roots, and + clinging by hand and foot to the frail bramble or the slippery moss, + leaping like a squirrel from bough to bough, and yet, by happy boldness, + escaping all danger, he attained his object as easily as if he had been + upon level ground. Three, four, five times was the knowing, joyous, + triumphant whistle sounded, and every time with a fresh peril and a fresh + escape. At last, the young gentleman, panting and breathless, stood at my + side, and I began to question him as to the treasure he had been pursuing. + </p> + <p> + "It's the ground-ash, ma'am," responded master Dick, taking one of the + coils from his pocket; "the best riding-switch in the world. All the whips + that ever were made are nothing to it. Only see how strong it is, how + light, and how supple! You may twist it a thousand ways without breaking. + It won't break, do what you will. Each of these, now, is worth + half-a-crown or three shillings, for they are the scarcest things + possible. They grow up at a little distance from the root of an old tree, + like a sucker from a rose-bush. Great luck, indeed!" continued Dick, + putting up his treasure with another joyful whistle; "it was but t'other + day that Jack Barlow offered me half-a-guinea for four, if I could but + come by them. I shall certainly keep the best, though, for myself—unless, + ma'am, you would be pleased to accept it for the purpose of whipping + Dash." Whipping Dash!!! Well have I said that Dick was as saucy as a + lady's page or a king's jester. Talk of whipping Dash! Why, the young + gentleman knew perfectly well that I had rather be whipt myself twenty + times over. The very sound seemed a profanation. Whip my Dash! Of course I + read master Dick a lecture for this irreverent mention of my pet, who, + poor fellow, hearing his name called in question, came up in all innocence + to fondle me; to which grave remonstrance the hopeful youth replied by + another whistle, half of penitence, half of amusement. + </p> + <p> + These discourses brought us to the bottom of the mound, and turning round + a clump of hawthorn and holly, we espied a little damsel with a basket at + her side, and a large knife in her hand, carefully digging up a large root + of white primroses, and immediately recognised my old acquaintance, Bessy + Leigh. + </p> + <p> + She was, as before, clean, and healthy, and tidy, and unaffectedly glad to + see me; but the joyousness and buoyancy which had made so much of her + original charm, were greatly diminished. It was clear that poor Bessy had + suffered worse griefs than those of cold and hunger; and upon questioning + her, so it turned out. + </p> + <p> + Her father had died, and her mother had been ill, and the long hard winter + had been hard to get through; and then the rent had come upon her, and the + steward (for the young gentleman himself was a minor) had threatened to + turn them out if it were not paid to a day—the very next day after + that on which we were speaking; and her mother had been afraid they must + go to the workhouse, which would have been a sad thing, because now she + had got so much washing to do, and Harry was so clever at basket-making, + that there was every chance, this rent once paid, of their getting on + comfortably. "And the rent will be paid now, ma'am, thank Ood!" added + Bessy, her sweet face brightening; "for we want only a guinea of the whole + sum, and Lady Denys has employed me to get scarce wild-flowers for her + wood, and has promised me half-a-guinea for what I have carried her, and + this last parcel, which I am to take to the lodge to-night; and Mr. John + Barlow, her groom, has offered Harry twelve and sixpence for five + ground-ashes that Harry has been so lucky as to find by the spring, and + Harry is gone to cut them: so that now we shall get on bravely, and mother + need not fret any longer. I hope no harm will befal Harry in getting the + ground-ash, though, for it's a noted dangerous place. But he's a careful + boy." + </p> + <p> + Just at this point of her little speech, poor Bessy was interrupted by her + brother, who ran down the declivity exclaiming, "They're gone, Bessy!—they're + gone! somebody has taken them! the ground-ashes are gone!" + </p> + <p> + Dick put his hand irresolutely to his pocket, and then, uttering a dismal + whistle, pulled it resolutely out again, with a hardness, or an + affectation of hardness, common to all lads, from the prince to the + stable-boy. + </p> + <p> + I also put my hand into my pocket, and found, with the deep disappointment + which often punishes such carelessness, that I had left my purse at home. + All that I could do, therefore, was to bid the poor children be comforted, + and ascertain at what time Bessy intended to take her roots, which in the + midst of her distress she continued to dig up, to my excellent friend Lady + Denys. I then, exhorting them to hope the best, made my way quickly out of + the wood. + </p> + <p> + Arriving at the gate, I missed my attendant. Before, however, I had reached + the farm at which we had left our phaeton, I heard his gayest and most + triumphant whistle behind me. Thinking of the poor children, it jarred + upon my feelings. "Where have you been loitering, Sir?" I asked, in a + sterner voice than he had probably ever heard from me before. + </p> + <p> + "Where have I been?" replied he; "giving little Harry the ground-ashes, to + be sure: I felt just as if I had stolen them. And now, I do believe," + continued he, with a prodigious burst of whistling, which seemed to me as + melodious as the song of the nightingale, "I do believe," quoth Dick, + "that I am happier than they are. I would not have kept those + ground-ashes, no, not for fifty pounds!" + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ground-Ash, by Mary Russell Mitford + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GROUND-ASH *** + +***** This file should be named 22846-h.htm or 22846-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/8/4/22846/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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