TENNYSON AND HIS RUSTIC NEIGHBOURS.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3030, 24 January 1899, Page 3

TENNYSON AND HIS RUSTIC NEIGHBOURS.

The admiration of Lord Tennyson's rustic neighbours was, it must be confessed, some- | what confused and vague, especially before he became a tangible, understandable .Lord. One day, when Lord Tennyson was having his new study built, he overheard an amusing conversation between two of the workmen. " Have you seen him ?" said one. " Yes," replied the other. ! " What sort of a chap is he ?"' " Oh, well enough for an ' overner,' " growled the other in reply. This story is a characcteristic one of the old days when the Wight islander was pro- | founclly exclusive, and believed that stout, '■ honest fellows like himself grew only in the j Isle of Wight; for no good, in his estimation, could be expected from " over '" the sea. ! The shepherd at Farringford was a wellknown figure in the old days. When he grew old and past work, he was given a pension by Lord Tennyson, and he retired to a little cottage on the estate. One day a niece of the poet's went to sit by him, and she read to him from a volume of Teanyson'B poetry. When she had finished reading:, he baid : " Well, miss, but that was line! What a headpiece he must have on him, to be sure! You'd never think of it now to look at him." " Oh, yes*, shepherd," exclain^od the young lady. " Why, ] think he has a beautiful, noble face." , '• Well, miss," retorted the old man, "that may be. but you'd never think it, anyway, to hear him talk !" Of Lady Tennyson the country folk are more appreciative: — She was fruitful in good works, and did nil with that inimitable grace and charm which spring only from the heart. Her memory is green in many of the little cottages in Freshwater. An old man in Freshwater once said, speaking of her with the tears almost in his eyes: " She was the kindest, most beautiful-speaking woman I have ever met, sir. God bless her !"