Page:The Leadbeater Papers (1862) Vol 1.djvu/43

with an idea of superior elegance of which I can scarce divest myself even now. Perhaps some peacock's feathers about the chimney-piece caused this childish error of judgment. The ceiling was actually supported by props to prevent it from falling in, and the crazy state of the house occasioned no little uneasiness in stormy weather to the friends of the occupants, though I believe not to themselves. At length the old man was prevailed upon to rebuild; he finished the kitchen end, but was by that time so thoroughly tired of artificers, that he resigned the completion of the job to his daughter-in-law. Their grandsons Abraham Shackleton and William Raynor resided with them; the latter was a child, the former a stripling just bursting out into that brilliancy of talent for which he became distinguished, and which was veiled by amiable modesty and softened by good nature; he was pronounced by Mary Barnard a child who could not be spoiled, and was the pride and darling of the venerable trio.

The forge next presents itself, at the extremity of a little row of cabins. Although a shattered-looking place, it was well frequented, both on account of business and news; nor have the genteeler sort disdained to sit on the stone bench at the door. Adjoining thereto was the dwelling of the proprietor, Mick Murray, an old man who was not only skilled in shoeing horses and prescribing for their distempers, but occasionally drew teeth with his pincers. He is reported to have once lifted my mother three times from the floor, in his fruitless attempts to extract a tooth; and