The Waterdale Neighbours, by the Author of 'Paul Massie' (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. 1867 edition. Excerpt: ... who are lords above of our social system. Moreover, he had the ill-luck to infuse a savour of his old-world views into whatever subject he talked about, with whomsoever he talked. That every evil wherewith this country is occasionally afflicted is due to the pressure of an aristocratic and oligarchical system, kept up partly by peers, partly by millionnaires, and partly by the timid or time-serving politicians who truckle to them, was Tom's principal article of faith. "No Calvinist, no Hebrew, no Spanish Catholic, ever held to his creed with a more thorough and intolerant belief than Tom did to this. He made it his touchstone of all human worth. Blench from these principles, and you must be either a craven or a knave. Third way there was none. Even Lennon this last of the Chartists sometimes suspected in bitter and distrustful moments, when he saw him friendly with Walter Warton or confiding with the Alwyns; and the more these latter became gradually estranged from Ealph, the more Tom admired his leader and rejoiced. The cottages did not fill. Some few families were there; but the occupants most ready to offer themselves were so plainly of the tramp class that their application had to be instantly rejected; and the resident population more and more fought shy of the business. As yet the vainest of dreamers could not flatter himself that he had accomplished any good. The self-governing system had not even got into operation, for there were not people enough in occupation to set it going. The schools ceased to have students. The tramp class came and occupied cottages here and there of nights, and could hardly be ejected until, desiring change of scene, they chose to depart of their own good pleasure. An incident occurred, too, which brought even...