Stoke Charity
Hinton Bailey, Mr
charity
Burghclere
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After steering for some time, we came down to a very fine
farm-house, which we stopped a little to admire; and I asked
Richard whether that was not a place to be happy in. The
village, which we found to be STOKE-CHARITY, was about a mile
lower down this little vale. Before we got to it, we overtook
the owner of the farm, who knew me, though I did not know him;
but, when I found it was Mr. HINTON BAILEY, of whom and whose
farm I had heard so much, I was not at all surprised by the
fineness of what I had just seen. I told him that the word
charity, making, as it did, part of the name of this place, had
nearly inspired me with boldness enough to go to the farm house,
in the ancient style, and ask for something to eat; for, that we
had not yet breakfasted. He asked us to go back; but, at
BURGHCLERE we were resolved to dine. After, however, crossing
the village, and beginning again to ascend the downs, we came to
a labourer's (once a farm house), where I asked the man, whether
he had any bread and cheese, and was a little pleased to hear
him say 'Yes.'
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cheese
bread
baking
fuel
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Then I asked to give us a bit, protesting that we had not yet
broken our fast. He answered in the affirmative, at once, though
I did not talk of payment. His wife brought out a cut loaf, and
a piece of Wiltshire cheese, and I took them in hand, gave
Richard a good hunch, and took another for myself. I verily
believe, that all the pleasure of eating enjoyed by all the
feeders in London in a whole year, does not equal that which we
enjoyed in gnawing this bread and cheese, as we rode over this
cold down, whip and bridle-reins in one hand, and the hunch in
the other. Richard, who was purse bearer, gave the woman, by my
direction, about enough to buy two quartern loaves: for she told
me, that they had to buy their bread at the mill, not being able
to bake themselves for want of fuel; and this, as I said before,
is one of the draw-backs in this sort of country. I wish
everyone of these people had an American fire-place. Here they
might, then, even in these bare countries have comfortable
warmth. Rubbish of any sort would, by this means, give them
warmth. I am now, at six o'clock in the morning, sitting in a
room, where one of these fire-places, with very light turf in it,
gives as good and steady a warmth as it is possible to feel, and
which room has, too, been cured of smoking by
this fire-place.
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