matters for the sick and poor. Most
commonly there are a couple of stone bottles filled with cowslip,
currant, ginger, or elderberry wine, slung before him over the well-worn
saddle--to the carrying of which Peggy has got so accustomed, that she
does not go comfortably without them. She has so fallen into the habits
of old Jones, who is an inveterate gossip, (Madam having helped to make
him such by the numerous inquiries she makes of him every morning as to
every one in the village and on the estate, and which inquiries he
_must_ have the means of answering,) that, slowly as she jogs along, if
ever she meets or is overtaken by any one, she stops of her own accord,
as if to hear what they and her rider have to say to one another. She is
a great favorite with all, and gets a mouthful of hay or grass at every
place she stops at, either from the children or the old people. When
poor Peggy comes to die, (and she is getting feeble, now,) she will be
missed by all the folk round Yatton! Madam Aubrey, growing, I am sorry
to say, less able to exert herself, does not go about as much as she
used, betaking herself, therefore, oftener and oftener, to the old
family coach; and when she is going to drive about the neighborhood, you
may almost always see it stop at the vicarage for old Dr. Tatham, who
generally accompanies her. On these occasions she always has in the
carriage a black velvet bag containing Testaments and Prayer-books,
which are principally distributed as rewards to those whom the parson
can recommend as deserving of them. For these five-and-twenty years she
has never missed giving a copy of each to every child in the village and
on the estate, on its being confirmed; and the old lady looks round very
keenly every Sunday, from her pew, to see that these Bibles and
Prayer-books are reverently used. I could go on for an hour and longer,
telling you these and other such matters of this exemplary lady; but we
shall by and by have some opportunities of seeing and knowing more of
her personally. Her features are delicate, and have been very handsome;
and in manner she is very calm, and quiet, and dignified. She looks all
that you would expect from what I have told you. The briskness of youth,
the sedate firmness of middle-age, have years since given place, as you
will see with some pain, to the feebleness produced by ill health and
mental suffering--for she mourned grievously after those whom she had
lost! Oh! how she dotes up