Masters and Workmen, by Lord B- (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. 1851. Excerpt: ... It was a bright sunny day; and a pleasant breeze, which had somewhat the freshness of autumn, came over the western hills as Molly descended, by a sheep track amongst the heath, from the wide and desolate moors, which she had trodden for many hours, without seeing a human being. But though the scene was lonely, it was far from sad. The various lines of hill and dale, extending far around--the vast expanse of the ever changing sky, where light fleecy clouds, as they floated on the breeze, chequered the earth with shadows--the long, blue line of the distant ocean--the purple and yellow flowers of the heath, and the furze, covering like an embroidered mantle the uncultivated ground, and the hum of the bees as they flitted over the honey blossoms, were cheering to the mind from the feeling they excited of boundless liberty and peace. Nature was there in all its freshness, and its sweetness, and its vigour; and though the luxuriant vegetation to be found in southern lands was wanting the wildnesss of the boundless scene, -had an equal charm for the natives of that hilly district, at the foot of which lay Linton, where Molly was born. The sun was still above the horizon, when a sudden turn of the path brought her full in sight of the village of Ashton. She sat down on a stone beside a clear source of fresh water, which there burst forth from the broken bank, not only to rest, but to consider what plan was best to pursue, in order to procure the information of which she had come thither in search. Nearly fourteen years had passed since the Forrests had left Ashton; but, in such a secluded village, where few events occur to interrupt the monotony of daily labour, she trusted they were not yet forgotten; and that, from those who remembered them, there might yet exi..