The Project Gutenberg EBook of Shanty the Blacksmith; A Tale of Other Times
by Mrs. Sherwood [AKA: Mrs. Mary Martha Sherwood]

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Title: Shanty the Blacksmith; A Tale of Other Times

Author: Mrs. Sherwood [AKA: Mrs. Mary Martha Sherwood]

Release Date: May 10, 2004 [EBook #12315]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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SHANTY

THE

BLACKSMITH;

A TALE OF OTHER TIMES

BY MRS. SHERWOOD.

1852.

SHANTY

THE

BLACKSMITH.

* * * * *

It was during the last century, and before the spirit of revolution had
effected any change in the manners of our forefathers, that the events
took place, which are about to be recorded in this little volume.

At that period there existed in the wild border country, which lies
between England and Scotland, an ancient castle, of which only one
tower, a few chambers in the main building, certain offices enclosed in
high buttressed walls, and sundry out-houses hanging as it were on
those walls, yet remained. This castle had once been encircled by a moat
which had been suffered to dry itself up, though still the little stream
which used to fill it when the dams were in repair, murmured and
meandered at the bottom of the hollow, and fed the roots of many a water
plant and many a tree whose nature delights in dank and swampy soils.
The verdure, however, which encircled this ancient edifice, added
greatly to the beauty, when seen over the extent of waste and wild in
which it stood. There can be no doubt but that the ancient possessors of
this castle, which, from the single remaining barrier, and the name of
the family, was called Dymock's tower, had been no other than strong and
dangerous free-booters, living on the plunder of the neighbouring
kingdom of Scotland. Every one knows that a vast extent of land, waste
or at best but rudely cultivated, had once belonged to the Lords of
Dymock; but within a few years this family had fallen from affluence,
and were at length so much reduced, that the present possessor could
hardly su