Gaskell - Spring in a Shropshire Abbey

WENLOCK ABBEY IN 1778.

SPRING IN A SHROPSHIRE

ABBEY

BY

LADY C. MILNES GASKELL

AUTHOR OF

THE NEW CINDERELLA, AND OLD SHROPSHIRE LIFE.

WITH EIGHTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS

LONDON

SMITH, ELDER & CO., 15, WATERLOO PLACE

1905

(All rights reserved)

JANUARY

PAGE

A day in the heart of winterI lie in bedMy books, my dogsMy daughter BessFlowers from MentoneCromwells cabinetMy dog MouseThe feeding of the birdsThe recollection of the beautiful garden at La MortolaThe violets thereThe Wenlock chimesMy curtain, its strange devicesColouring borrowed from the macawsAll flowers not only have different shades but many coloursMouse runs downstairsVisitors callThe children get wetThe German governesss indignationBess offers to payHals is carried off in Henrys dressing-gownThe next dayMy friend Constance comes down and embroiders with meBilly Buttons the robinBess and I visit the gardensA word about canaries in an aviaryDiscussion with Bess on saintsAuguste has cleaned Hals suitBurbidge walks with usA talk about gardeningAn old gardeners view of dogsConstance has a chat with meWe talk on matters relating to the kitchen gardenVegetables, and how to cook themConstances future quilt, designs from Gerards flowers to be worked on old Shropshire hand-made linenThe servant problemBesss requestNana on dogsAlone in the chapel hallThomas Kempiss bookThe stone altarThe next dayThe seed listMy future bordersBess and I go sledgingBess tries to understand what real poverty isHow to be happy a hard matterBesss offer of toys

FEBRUARY

The beginning of springThe spring of the NorthThe story of St. MilburghaLegends of her sanctityBelief in the efficacy of the saints waterWishing Well at WenlockFirst spring flowers in the red-walled gardenI see starlingsThe cock chaffinchHals visitSister Helen in the mouth of babesBesss remorseConstances quilt from Gerards HerbalThe peace of WenlockBess and her futureThe difficulties of educationAn interview with BurbidgeHow his brother was overlookedI go to HomerBeautiful viewThe story of Banisters CoppiceThe arrest of the Duke of BuckinghamThe Dukes curseIts effect upon the Banister familyA visit to an old cottagerA noble life, and unclouded faithNanny Morgan the witchHer life and deathBess returnsThe first snowdrops of the yearA walk home in the gloaming

MARCH

The first signs of springBirds sing and callLife everywhereThrostle and blackbirdNature everywhere hard at workThe monastic snailsTheir use nowOnly used for thrushes breakfastsTerror of village folks at the thought that they might be put in ragoutsCrocusesCloth of GoldRizzioSir W. ScottWhite DaphneHelleboresArabisJenny WrenLegends about the birdThe pet robins nest in the kettleStories and folklore about the robinLambs at playThe gentle science of anglingDame Berners bookThe Abbots walkPeter on ountsA talk about rooks and their waysThe carrion crow and his erie cryI return late for breakfastPrince CharmingTalk about the pug-pupNana hostileBesss suggestions of how and where to keep the pupA talk with a child about lettersHours in the gardenPear tree in sheets of snowTwo hedges of rosesA bed of ranunculiBurbidge takes me asideThe boys are sent to garden in the distance, and I hear about his brother and SalHow the cure was effectedWe go to Wenlock stationArrival of the pugMouse jealousMouse appeasedEven Nana is kind to Prince CharmingAn hour with MontaigneA word about the sword flower or GladiolusThe arrival of the swansBess believes them to be fairy princesWe feed themBess carried off by NanaBess will not walk with meBess tells me that Frulein has met with an accidentA long walk alone over the fields with Mouse, after a bunch of white violetsFavourite flowersRapture of the birdsThe lark a speck in the skyWood-sorrelSt. Patricks plantHow Bess spent the afternoonBesss purchaseThe next morningNanas indignationBesss full confession, and how she paid her debt

APRIL

A spring dayThe Abbey foolAn old country rhymeThe old custom of All Fools Day revivedOld Adam full of splendourA visit to the Abbey poolClematises opened out to the lightThe borders full of spring flowersRose pruningHow roses should be pruned differentlySomething about beesThe tool-houseBright colours for the beehivesScotch bees and their favourite colourThe old Shropshire beeBess and I attend the removal of the beesMasks and bee-veils worn by gardenersBurbidge whispers the charmBee folkloreBess and I help to paint the bee-housesThe bees are freedThady MaloneHis messageMrs. Harley has sent for meI go off to HomerThe last sceneA death of brilliant hope and happinessMouse and I returnThe cuckooThe joy of life, and the beauty of springThe Sunday before Easter, or Palm SundayThe old rite of the blessing of the boughsAll the young people in church wear the golden willowThe walk in the churchyardAfter luncheon I read extracts from Sir Thomas Botelars Church RegistersWenlock history in Tudor timesA word about Constances quiltThe revival of the May dance at WenlockA village fte Bess to be May QueenMarsh marigold the special flowerBesss delight at the thought of the fte Burbidge gives his consentVirtuous indignation of old Hester his wifeEaster SundayThe Sacrament in the old churchIn the afternoon we visit Thady, who is down with a bad legBess takes him an Easter EggThe mead of daffodilsA bunch of daffs for luckHow Burbidge had planted themOur visit to old Timothy TheobaldsHis tales of the old waysBull-baitingRejoicings at LoppingtonThe Madeley bull-baitingsCourage of the Vicar of Madeley and his eloquenceStories of old May DayStories and old accounts locallyPuritan dislike of the festivalA beautiful spring morningThe summer flowers growing in strengthBeauty of the cloister-garthDivision of the violet rootsThe great daffodils and their splendourThe gooseberry and currant cagesBurbidges dislike to bullfinchesThe double primroses, their beauty and charmPreparations for the May danceAll the old servants are occupied in making the May dance a successA talk with Thady through the windowA day in the woodsBirds nestsLuncheon under the greenwood treeFairy-storiesWe wander homeQuotations about sleepThe delights of a long day in the woods

MAY

The May-poleThe dancesBesss dressBurbidges fears for his gardenOld Master Theobalds is taken illHe revives, thanks to Augustes brothA talk of old daysWakes and Wishing WellsGrinning through a horse-collar, a rustic accomplishment in the pastA walk to the Wrekin to drink out of the bird-bowlsSusie LangfordCock-fighting at Wenlock and elsewhereOld customs and sinful practicesTraditions about winners of the ringTom MoodyHis pet horse Old SoulToms wild drives and leapsHow Tom was once found in a bogTom and the SquireToms funeralView-holloa over the graveAn afternoon in the ruined churchThe story of St. Milburgha as told by William of MalmesburyWords about the monasteries from many sourcesThe pity of the wreckage and destruction of so much that was beautiful in the ReformationThady brings me a Jack SquealerI am taken off bird-nestingI am shown the nest of a redstart, that of a black ouzel, and one of a Jack Smut (black cap) on a brambleA beautiful night in the ruinsNarcissi in blossom like a mist of stars at my feetI think of all who have passed through the cloistersThe end of the Abbey Church, a quarry for road-mending and for the building of pigsties and cottagesMy late tulipsA long walk in the early morningBeauty of the early hours of the dayThe country in full splendourOak Apple DayLittle boys going to school with the badge of Stuart loyalty in their capsThe chevyI pluck a bunch of anemonesPoor Bess in disgraceHigh words between Clestine and Mrs. LangdaleHow pleasant life would be without its worriesSilence in dogs one of their chief charms and merits