Love, the Harvester; Being a Story of the Gleaners in the Winter of the Year, and of Those That Went a Hunting in the Days When George the Third Was K

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901. Excerpt: ... Chapter IX Tom-tlie-Rider makes new Friends MASTER SHENSTONE, as Parson Dallas often would remind Joshua Snawley, declared that a man ever would find his warmest welcome at an inn; and, that being so, The Feathers owed a debt of hospitality and genial comfort to all that rode by its friendly doors. To give him his due, the said Snawley was never one to forget his part in life or the reputation which his good house wore for the best ale in all Northamptonshire and the sauciest maids, and the very prettiest kitchen wherein a weary man might consume his nectar and as much honest beef as his stomach desired. A bustling place it was, with trim stable-yards and cunning old passages that led to nowhere, and tilted gables which spoke of a hundred years ago, and bright faces and leather breeches everywhere. Home!--why it was home to catch a glimpse of the lights in its windows when you were a mile away on a dead-beat horse, as Quick the groom bore witness. An odd sort of a man that would be who asked more of life than a seat in the ingle of the kitchen, and Jane, the black-eyed wench, to carry him a tankard, and old Snawley, mine host, to give him the latest gossip, ay, and to make gossip, too, when the need was. At least, it was so said by the friends of The Feathers; and all agreed that for a wellkept, generous hostelry there was none to beat it in the three kingdoms. Peaceful, however, as the life at The Feathers was upon any day of the week you might choose to name (save only at the seasons of fairs), the afternoon which brought to its doors Tom-the-Rider and another, a little rogue of a man in a long shabby coat and a rusted beaver hat, found much unwonted stir in the usually orderly kitchen, and not a few calls for hot brandy negus to be served by Miss...