Page:Walks in the Black Country and its green border-land.pdf/347

Rh There was the round, unvarnished deal table standing kindly on three legs, and the long tobacco pipes, with reddened tips to their stems. Never did I so luxuriate in a tavern entertainment before. It was all my fancy had dreamed; and I should realize the dream to the full—I knew I should. I was to walk all around the island in that fashion; to put up at such a way-side inn at night; write until twelve next day, then buckle on my knapsack and walk about ten miles through the country villages and hamlets to another hostelry at sunset. This was my first day's experience of this programme; and it promised well. Next morning arose early, and ate breakfast on the little round table to the song of the lark that came in at the open window like a benediction on the meal. When the table was cleared. I sat down to the literary part of my programme, determined to bring it up to the cherished expectation. How quiet was everything around and above! I was put upon the honour of an enthusiastic imagination, and could not disappoint it. So I wrote for four hours with great gusto and application, and got off an article under the head of "The Last Hour of the League," for "Douglas Jerrold's Newspaper," which he had just started, and for which I had promised to write a few papers on my proposed walk up and down England. Thus I had accomplished the first day's working of my plan