Dartmoor Days; Or, Scenes in the Forest, a Poem (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1863 edition. Excerpt: ...of Devon or Cornwall must have been struck by the frequency with which his eye has fallen on the framed picture of a fine forest tree, in full verdure, with a mighty bole and endless ramifications arising from it in all directions. This, on close inspection, he has discovered to be the genealogical Buller tree, which represents the wonderful resuscitation of that honourable family from a single member of it, who, to all appearance had succumbed to the disease of small-pox, then so frequently fatal. John Francis Buller, at that time unmarried and the last of a long line of distinguished ancestry, was literally 'laid out' in his coffin at Morval, when his coachman entering the chamber to take a last look at his master opened the window, and at once, as if by a miracle, the fresh air brought new life, and the apparent corpse arose and recovered. This gentleman, who very properly lies at the root of the present wide-spreading tree, was afterwards married in 1716 to the beautiful Rebecca Trelawny, a daughter of the famous Sir John Trelawny, Bishop of Bristol, who in 1688 was sent to the Tower by King James II. The clergyman engaged in performing the marriage ceremony between the fair Rebecca and Mr. Buller was so shocked at the distress exhibited by the lady that he refused to proceed with the service; on which the Bishop, her father, ordered him at once to do his duty, or he would himself perform the ceremony. Accordingly, in spite of a heart-rending scene, the clergyman obeyed orders and the twain became man and wife. It is believed the gentleman's comeliness had been sadly disfigured by the small-pox, which might account in some measure for the lady's repugnance to the union. There is a fine old picture at Morval which represents Rebecca as the...