The Project Gutenberg EBook of Our Village, by Mary Russell Mitford

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Title: Our Village

Author: Mary Russell Mitford

Commentator: Anne Thackeray Ritchie

Posting Date: January 8, 2009 [EBook #2496]
Release Date: February, 2001

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR VILLAGE ***

Produced by Les Bowler

OUR VILLAGE

By Mary Russell Mitford

1893 Macmillan and Co. edition.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION
COUNTRY PICTURES
WALKS IN THE COUNTRY
THE FIRST PRIMROSE
VIOLETING
THE COPSE
THE WOOD
THE DELL
THE COWSLIP-BALL
THE OLD HOUSE AT ABERLEIGH
THE HARD SUMMER
THE SHAW
NUTTING
THE VISIT
HANNAH BINT
THE FALL OF THE LEAF

Introduction by Anne Thackeray Ritchie

I.

There is a great deal of admirable literature concerning Miss Mitford,
so much of it indeed, that the writer of this little notice feels as if
she almost owed an apology to those who remember, for having ventured to
write, on hearsay only, and without having ever known or ever seen
the author of 'Our Village.' And yet, so vivid is the homely friendly
presence, so clear the sound of that voice 'like a chime of bells,' with
its hospitable cheery greeting, that she can scarcely realise that this
acquaintance exists only in the world of the might-have-beens.

For people who are beginning to remember, rather than looking forward
any more, there certainly exists no more delightful reading than the
memoirs and stories of heroes and heroines, many of whom we ourselves
may have seen, and to whom we may have spoken. As we read on we are led
into some happy bygone region,--such as that one described by Mr. du
Maurier in 'Peter Ibbetson,'--a region in which we ourselves, together
with all our friends and acquaintances, grow young again;--very young,
very brisk, very hopeful. The people we love are there, along with the
people we remember. Music begins to play, we are dancing, laughing,
scampering over the country once more; our parents too are young and
laughing cheerily. Every now and then perhaps some old friend, also
vigorous and hopeful