Let us hear him, for once, at length: "So the women and W.
Hewer and I walked upon the Downes, where a flock of sheep
was; and the most pleasant and innocent sight that ever I saw
in my life. We found a shepherd and his little boy reading,
far from any houses or sight of people, the Bible to him; so
I made the boy read to me, which he did with the forced tone
that children do usually read, that was mighty pretty; and
then I did give him something, and went to the father, and
talked with him. He did content himself mightily in my
liking his boy's reading, and did bless God for him, the most
like one of the old patriarchs that ever I saw in my life,
and it brought those thoughts of the old age of the world in
my mind for two or three days after. We took notice of his
woolen knit stockings of two colours mixed, and of his shoes
shod with iron, both at the toe and heels, and with great
nails in the soles of his feet, which was mighty pretty; and
taking notice of them, 'Why,' says the poor man, 'the downes,
you see, are full of stones, and we are faine to shoe
ourselves thus; and these,' says he, 'will make the stones
fly till they ring before me.' I did give the poor man
something, for which he was mighty thankful, and I tried to
cast stones with his horne crooke. He values his dog
mightily, that would turn a sheep any way which he would have
him, when he goes to fold them; told me there was about
eighteen score sheep in his flock, and that he hath four
shillings a week the year round for keeping of them; and Mrs.
Pages:
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317