The English Bodley family . A narrow lane wound through the hamlet; it passed a Prim-itive Methodist chapel, and the White Hart Inn, which looked,hardly large enough to hold the innkeeper; finally the road broughtthem to the venerable parish church. The churchyard gate was locked, and Mr. Bodley went to thenearest cottage for the key. Heknocked and knocked, till a voiceacross the road called out that no onewas at home. On going over to con-sult the voice, he found that the keywas kept by the parish clerk, wholived at the other end of the village. They all turned back as bidden, andfound the cl
The English Bodley family . A narrow lane wound through the hamlet; it passed a Prim-itive Methodist chapel, and the White Hart Inn, which looked,hardly large enough to hold the innkeeper; finally the road broughtthem to the venerable parish church. The churchyard gate was locked, and Mr. Bodley went to thenearest cottage for the key. Heknocked and knocked, till a voiceacross the road called out that no onewas at home. On going over to con-sult the voice, he found that the keywas kept by the parish clerk, wholived at the other end of the village. They all turned back as bidden, andfound the clerk, finally, at his shoe-makers bench with lapstone in his lap, pounding ujDon a shoe. Hewas a placid old fellow, and got up at once to put on his coat andfetch the key. Do you suppose he has any idea, asked Mrs. Bodley, why wehave come to see his little church ? You re Americans, I suppose, said the old man quickly, cometo see the church where Bradford was baptized ? Then there have been some before us, said Mr. Austerfield Church A PILGRIMAGE. 123. Oh, a-many, sir. Many Americans come here and some Enghsh ;they come to see Avhere the Pilgrim Fathers came from. There s agood many Bradfords have been here. Are there any Bradfords left in Austerfield ? asked ProfessorAdams. No, sir. The name s not been known here since William Brad-fords day. And is there anything left of Bradfords house ? We can see it, sir, by walking a bit just beyond the church. Itsbeen altered a good deal. There is nt much left of the old house,I believe. It is the church, after all, said Mr. Van Wyck, that plajs thepart of a shrine in these historical memorials. Houses go to ruin orare pulled down, but the church abides, sometimes restored, it istrue, but often the most satisfectory peg on which to hang yourmemories. How old is the church, clerk ? Its over eight hundred years old, sir, said he, with pride. You 11 admire that piece of Norman work over the porch, and heheld them back to get a view
Size: 1615px × 1547px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherbosto, bookyear1900
