Memorials of the Mind and Heart Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1853 edition. Excerpt: ...when she had proved the truth of Margaret's words, did Rachel look back to that quiet evening, and bless the friendly voice which had strengthened her in the time of trial. NOTES OF A WEEK'S RAMBLE IN THE ISLE OF JERSEY. Jersey is the largest, and by far the most fertile, of the Channel Islands. Like the rest of this group, it constitutes a portion of the British dominions; yet it is so much nearer to France than to any other shore, as almost to render probable the supposition that at one time it may have formed part of the mainland_of that kingdom. On a clear day the cathedral of Coutances may be plainly discerned by the naked eye, and even the houses scattered along the coast of Normandy. The inhabitants of the Channel Islands are, however, particularly anxious to be considered English; and, consequently, all that is foreign in their manners and customs is gradually wearing away. Still there is, at present, much picturesque admixture of French and English in their dress and mode of life. French remains the ordinary language of the country-people. The sermons delivered in their churches, and the pleadings of their law-courts are, in general, French; and oflicial documents, public notices, &c., are frequently printed in parallel columns of French and English. The patois of the peasantry, sprinkled as it is with English phrases, is often amusing enough, and was well exemplified in our hearing by the "Allons, good-bye-all " which formed the parting salutation of a Jersey countryman. This piebald kind of language is, however, sometimes as puzzling as it is laughable. For instance, in Guernsey, where the same sort of dialect is common, we happened to inquire of a labouring man whether he knew anything of the...