Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/38

22 painful. My hands were soft, and for the first week or two were sorely bruised. I often felt as if the sun stood still. And O what a relief did Saturday evening bring! The Sabbath was truly a day of rest, though we were almost too tired to enjoy it.

“One harvest, in order to see a little of the world, three of us set out on an excursion to England. After an early breakfast, we walked for seven or eight hours till we reached the Cheviot Hills, which separated Scotland from England. The weather had been exceedingly wet; a freshet, the largest for thirty-six years, had deluged the valleys, and in many places had carried off the bridges, and of course rendered walking very toilsome. As we proceeded onwards, we came to a mountain stream which had only a few minutes before our arrival swept away a bridge of seven arches. The people of the vicinity were running to the spot, and wondering over the havoc. We inquired how we could proceed, and were told that we must ascend the banks of the stream till it divided into two, some miles above, and there they supposed it could be forded. We started on our weary way, and walked, hungry and tired, till we were almost ready to lie down in despair, when we saw a shepherd’s house among the hills at a distance. Thither we sped, and inquired how far we had to go before the river could be forded, and were informed that it was only a short distance off. The shepherd’s wife asked us if we would have a glass of milk, and when we gladly answered yes, she presented some brown bread and milk, which seemed the most delicious feast we had ever tasted. Much refreshed, we again sallied forth, and proceeded onwards till we came to the forks of the river, where, taking each other by the hand, we crossed in safety.