outlying districts
is the element which is most worthy of thoughtful consideration. On the
one hand, it may perhaps cause a powerful demand for corresponding
privileges; and on the other, counteract the tendency to unreasonable
expectations. In any case, it is a fact that cannot be ignored. Meantime,
all I claim for the following sketches is that they are written in a fair
and impartial spirit.

RICHARD JEFFERIES.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. THE FARMERS' PARLIAMENT

II. LEAVING HIS FARM

III. A MAN OF PROGRESS

IV. GOING DOWNHILL

V. THE BORROWER AND THE GAMBLER

VI. AN AGRICULTURAL GENIUS--OLD STYLE

VII. THE GIG AND THE FOUR-IN-HAND. A BICYCLE FARMER

VIII. HAYMAKING. 'THE JUKE'S COUNTRY'

IX. THE FINE LADY FARMER. COUNTRY GIRLS

X. MADEMOISELLE, THE GOVERNESS

XI. FLEECEBOROUGH. A 'DESPOT'

XII. THE SQUIRE'S 'ROUND ROBIN'

XIII. AN AMBITIOUS SQUIRE

XIV. THE PARSON'S WIFE

XV. A MODERN COUNTRY CURATE

XVI. THE SOLICITOR

XVII. 'COUNTY COURT DAY'

XVIII. THE BANK. THE OLD NEWSPAPER

XIX. THE VILLAGE FACTORY. VILLAGE VISITORS. WILLOW-WORK

XX. HODGE'S FIELDS

XXI. A WINTER'S MORNING

XXII. THE LABOURER'S CHILDREN, COTTAGE GIRLS

XXIII. THE LOW 'PUBLIC' IDLERS

XXIV. THE COTTAGE CHARTER, FOUR-ACRE FARMERS

XXV. LANDLORDS' DIFFICULTIES, THE LABOURER AS A POWER. MODERN CLERGY

XXVI. A WHEAT COUNTRY

XXVII. GRASS COUNTRIES

XXVIII. HODGE'S LAST MASTERS, CONCLUSION

CHAPTER I

THE FARMERS' PARLIAMENT

The doorway of the Jason Inn at Woolbury had nothing particular to
distinguish it from the other doorways of the same extremely narrow
street. There was no porch, nor could there possibly be one, for an
ordinary porch would reach half across the roadway. There were no steps to
go up, there was no entrance hall, no space specially provided for crowds
of visitors; simply nothing but an ordinary street-door opening directly
on the street, and very little, if any, broader or higher than those of
the private houses adjacent. There was not even the usual covered way or
archway leading into the courtyard behind, so often found at old country
inns; the approach to the stables and coach-houses was through a separate
and even more narrow and winding street, necessitating a detour of some
quarter of a mile. The dead, dull wall was worn smooth in places by the
involuntary rubbings it had r