He said he had formerly acted in that capacity for Southey,
although a gardener had not been kept by him as a regular part of his
establishment. This was an old man with an odd crookedness of legs, and
strange, disjointed limp. S----- had told him that we were Americans, and
he took the idea that we had come this long distance, over sea and land,
with the sole purpose of seeing Southey's residence, so that he was
inclined to do what he could towards exhibiting it. This was but little;
the present occupant (a Mr. Radday, I believe the gardener called him)
being away, and the house shut up.
But he showed us about the grounds, and allowed us to peep into the
windows of what had been Southey's library, and into those of another of
the front apartments, and showed us the window of the chamber in the
rear, in which Southey died. The apartments into which we peeped looked
rather small and low,--not particularly so, but enough to indicate an old
building. They are now handsomely furnished, and we saw over one of the
fireplaces an inscription about Southey; and in the corner of the same
room stood a suit, of bright armor. It is taller than the country-houses
of English gentlemen usually are, and it is even stately. All about, in
front, beside it and behind, there is a great profusion of trees, most of
which were planted by Southey, who came to live here more than fifty
years ago, and they have, of course, grown much more shadowy now than he
ever beheld them; for he died about fourteen years since.
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