A CURIOUS INSCRIPTION. M. S. 157 Between the Remains of her Brother Edward and of her Husband Arthur Here lies the body of BRIDGETT APPLEWHAITE, Once Bridgett Nelson. After the Fatiges of a Married Life For four years and three-quarters, bating three weeks, She Resolved to run the Risk of a Second Marriage Having with an apoplectick Dart The same instrument with wich he had formerly Touched the most Vital part of her Brain. . After a struggle for above sixty Hours But the certain and Merciful Friend to Old Age She Dyed on the 12 day of Sept. In ye year of our Lord 1737 and her own age 44. Strolling down to our carriage we met the rector, with whom we chatted about his interesting church, and he told us that the rood-screen was the finest in the kingdom. Speaking of the beautiful monument to the warrior, wife, and child, he said that there was some ancient armour placed above it, but that he had had this removed to the rectory to be cleaned, as it was very rusty. We saw the armour in question hanging in the rectory hall and rusty still; it consists of two helmets, a breast- and backplate. Let us hope that it will soon be back over the monument; then the children can look at it and wonder and romance about it, should the sermon be wearisome or overlong. As we have found out in more than one instance during our journeyings, articles do get removed now and again from country churches (it may be for safer keeping), but unfortunately it frequently happens that they are not readily to be seen in their new homes, and when the articles are of interest this fact is most annoying to the traveller. Let me quote an instance in point. Certain relics of Charles I., consisting of his watch, the shirt worn by him on the morning of his execution, his silk drawers, and the sheet in which his body was wrapped, were bequeathed by the owner to the parish of Ashburnham for ever, to be exhibited as great curiosities.' These relics, which were formerly kept in the church and could be seen by any traveller in those parts, have been removed to Ashburnham House and are not now shown. CHAPTER IX. Halesworth-Quaint Houses and Curious Carvings-Many Religions and little Religion-Verses by a local Schoolmaster-Provincial Papers-A singular Sign—Chat with a Miller--A lonely Church— Bungay-Commercial Travellers-An old Stronghold-A fine Prospect-Anglers-The Faculty of Artistic Sight-Mettingham Church and Castle--Trespassing--A Peal of Silver Bells-Barsham-The Reason of Round Church Towers-A TraditionHaunted Houses. HALESWORTH, where we had arranged to spend the night, proved to be an old-fashioned town possessing some interesting and picturesque timbered houses of ancient date. The carvings upon many of these are quaint, and, though in some cases crude, always effective. One curious bit of wood sculpture in bold relief that has place over a shop in the main street, I have reproduced as a heading at the commencement of this book. We found an excellent inn at Halesworth, the Angel to wit, the pleasant picturesque hall of which is quite a feature in the place. It was hung round when we were there with old sporting prints and was bright with growing flowers. On the table here we observed a great ram's horn mounted with a silver top, and charged, we found on lifting this, with snuff. This great snuff-box gave evidence of being in frequent use; we thought that the habit of taking tobacco thus had gone entirely out of fashion. It would seem that such is not the case—at least in some parts of Suffolk. Wandering about the town in the evening we came upon a contingent of the Salvation Army with banner flying and drum beating, and all the idle people of the place looking on. To be quite sure that we were not mistaken, we asked a person who was standing by us, who the people were, marching, singing, and shouting hymns so lustily, with much manifest satisfaction to themselves, but with a distressing disregard of all harmony. Our question was replied to with an indignant Oh! them's the Scribes and Pharisees; one's only got to join them to be allowed to go about the streets and make as much noise as you like; of course it don't matter how much you disturbs your neighbours. I calls it quite a fancy religion. March about and sing and shout; if quiet people (who work hard all the week and only have Sundays for a rest) don't like it, well, they can do the other thing. We've a nice lot of religions in this 'ere country, it seems to me, and a precious little religion. 'Tain't English, I says, this marching about with drums and flags; it's a foreign fashion I'm told.' By all of which we gathered that our Halesworth friend was not an enthusiastic admirer of the Salvation Army. On returning to our hotel we found that it possessed a pleasant bowling-green, so we betook ourselves thither to indulge in a last pipe before retiring to rest. Here we discovered some verses painted over a summer house upon the classic game |