ir, is my son John, and the dog with him is his dog
Joe."

"And what may your name be, if I may take the liberty of asking?"

"Greaves, sir; John Greaves from the county of Durham."

"Ah! a capital county that," said I.

"You like the county, sir? God bless you! John!" said he in a loud
voice, turning to the lad, "why don't you offer to carry the gentleman's
knapsack?"

"Don't let him trouble himself," said I. "As I was just now saying, a
capital county is Durham county."

"You really had better let the boy carry your bag, sir."

"No," said I, "I would rather carry it myself. I question upon the whole
whether there is a better county in England."

"Is it long since your honour was in Durham county?"

"A good long time. A matter of forty years."

"Forty years!--why that's the life of a man. That's longer than I have
been out of the county myself. I suppose your honour can't remember much
about the county."

"Oh yes, I can! I remember a good deal."

"Please, your honour, tell me what you remember about the county. It
would do me good to hear it."

"Well, I remember it was a very fine county in more respects than one.
One part of it was full of big hills and mountains, where there were
mines of coal and lead, with mighty works with tall chimneys spouting out
black smoke, and engines roaring, and big wheels going round, some turned
by steam, and others by what they call forces, that is, brooks of water
dashing down steep channels. Another part was a more level country, with
beautiful woods, happy-looking farm-houses well-filled fields and rich,
glorious meadows, in which stood stately, with brown sides and short
horns, the Durham ox."

"Oh dear, oh dear!" said my companion. "Ah! I see your honour knows
everything about Durham county. Forces? none but one who had been in
Durham county would have used that word. I haven't heard it for
five-and-thirty years. Forces! there was a force close to my village. I
wonder if your honour has ever been in Durham city?"

"Oh yes! I have been there."

"Does your honour remember anything about Durham city?"

"Oh yes! I remember a good deal about it."

"Then, your honour, pray tell us what you remember about it--pray do I
perhaps it will do me good."

"Well then, I remember that it was a fine old city standing on a hill
with a river running under it, and that it had a fine old church, one of
the finest in the of Britain; likewise a fine old castle; a