The Calm Stillness Of The
Afternoon, The Seclusion Of The Whole Place, The Silence Only Broken
By The Cawing Of
The rooks, the ancient church, the mossy graves with
their flowers and green grass, the sunshine and the tree shadows,
All
seemed to mingle together in a kind of hazy dream of peacefulness and
rest. How natural it is to say of some place sheltered, simple, cool,
and retired, here one might find peace, as if peace came from without,
and not from within. In the shadiest and stillest places may be the
most turbulent hearts; and there are hearts which, through the busiest
scenes, carry with them unchanging peace. As we were walking back, we
passed many cottages of the poor.
I noticed, with particular pleasure, the invariable flower garden
attached to each. Some pansies in one of them attracted my attention
by their peculiar beauty, so very large and richly colored. On being
introduced to the owner of them, she, with cheerful alacrity, offered
me some of the finest. I do not doubt of there being suffering and
misery in the agricultural population of England, but still there are
multitudes of cottages which are really very pleasant objects, as were
all these. The cottagers had that bright, rosy look of health which we
seldom see in America, and appeared to be both polite and
self-respecting.
In the evening we had quite a gathering of friends from the
neighborhood - intelligent, sensible, earnest people, who had grown up
in the love of the antislavery cause as into religion.
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