Cripps, the Carrier: A Woodland Tale

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, New Age, History, Fiction & Literature
Cover of the book Cripps, the Carrier: A Woodland Tale by Sir Richard Blackmore, Library of Alexandria
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Sir Richard Blackmore ISBN: 9781465601605
Publisher: Library of Alexandria Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint: Language: English
Author: Sir Richard Blackmore
ISBN: 9781465601605
Publisher: Library of Alexandria
Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint:
Language: English
The little village of Beckley lies, or rather lay many years ago, in the quiet embrace of old Stow Wood, well known to every Oxford man who loves the horn or fusil. This wood or forest (now broken up into many straggling copses) spread in the olden time across the main breadth of the highland to the north of Headington, between the valley of the Cherwell and the bogs of Otmoor. Beckley itself, though once approached by the Roman road from Alchester, must for many a century have nursed its rural quietude, withdrawn as it was from the stage-waggon track from High Wycombe to Chipping Norton, through Wheatley, Islip, and Bletchingdon, and lying in a tangle of narrow lanes leading only to one another. So Beckley took that cheerful view of life which enabled the fox to disdain the blandishments of the vintage, and prided itself on its happy seclusion and untutored honesty. But as all sons of Adam must have something or other to say to the rest, and especially to his daughters, this little village carried on some commerce with the outer world; and did it through a carrier. The name of this excellent man was Cripps; and the Carrier's mantle, or woolsey coat, had descended on this particular Cripps from many generations. All the Cripps family had a habit of adding largely to their number in every generation. In this they resembled most other families which have to fight the world, and therefore recruit their forces zealously; but in one great point they were very distinct—they agreed among one another. And ever since roads were made, or rather lanes began trying to make themselves, one great tradition had confirmed the dynasty of Crippses. This was that the eldest son should take the carrying business; the second son (upon first avoidance) should have the baker's shop in Oxford over against old Balliol College; the third should have the queer old swine-farm in the heart of Stow Forest; the fourth should be the butcher of Beckley, and the fifth its shoemaker.
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
The little village of Beckley lies, or rather lay many years ago, in the quiet embrace of old Stow Wood, well known to every Oxford man who loves the horn or fusil. This wood or forest (now broken up into many straggling copses) spread in the olden time across the main breadth of the highland to the north of Headington, between the valley of the Cherwell and the bogs of Otmoor. Beckley itself, though once approached by the Roman road from Alchester, must for many a century have nursed its rural quietude, withdrawn as it was from the stage-waggon track from High Wycombe to Chipping Norton, through Wheatley, Islip, and Bletchingdon, and lying in a tangle of narrow lanes leading only to one another. So Beckley took that cheerful view of life which enabled the fox to disdain the blandishments of the vintage, and prided itself on its happy seclusion and untutored honesty. But as all sons of Adam must have something or other to say to the rest, and especially to his daughters, this little village carried on some commerce with the outer world; and did it through a carrier. The name of this excellent man was Cripps; and the Carrier's mantle, or woolsey coat, had descended on this particular Cripps from many generations. All the Cripps family had a habit of adding largely to their number in every generation. In this they resembled most other families which have to fight the world, and therefore recruit their forces zealously; but in one great point they were very distinct—they agreed among one another. And ever since roads were made, or rather lanes began trying to make themselves, one great tradition had confirmed the dynasty of Crippses. This was that the eldest son should take the carrying business; the second son (upon first avoidance) should have the baker's shop in Oxford over against old Balliol College; the third should have the queer old swine-farm in the heart of Stow Forest; the fourth should be the butcher of Beckley, and the fifth its shoemaker.

More books from Library of Alexandria

Cover of the book History of Human Society by Sir Richard Blackmore
Cover of the book 1812 Napoleon I in Russia by Sir Richard Blackmore
Cover of the book Much Darker Days by Sir Richard Blackmore
Cover of the book Gaza: A City of Many Battles From the Family of Noah to the Present Day by Sir Richard Blackmore
Cover of the book Isabel Clarendon (Complete) by Sir Richard Blackmore
Cover of the book The Americanization of Edward Bok: The Autobiography of a Dutch Boy Fifty Years After by Sir Richard Blackmore
Cover of the book The Bishop and the Boogerman by Sir Richard Blackmore
Cover of the book The True History and Adventures of Catharine Vizzani: A Young Gentlewoman a Native of Rome by Sir Richard Blackmore
Cover of the book Prehistoric Man: Researches into the Origin of Civilization in the Old and the New World by Sir Richard Blackmore
Cover of the book A Journey in Southeastern Mexico by Sir Richard Blackmore
Cover of the book Maria Chapdelaine; A Tale of the Lake St. John Country by Sir Richard Blackmore
Cover of the book Miser Farebrother: A Novel (Complete) by Sir Richard Blackmore
Cover of the book Elements of Chemistry In a New Systematic Order Containing all the Modern Discoveries by Sir Richard Blackmore
Cover of the book Plato's Doctrine Respecting the Rotation of the Earth and Aristotle's Comment Upon That Doctrine by Sir Richard Blackmore
Cover of the book Pottery and Porcelain: From Early Times Down to the Philadelphia Exhibition of 1876 by Sir Richard Blackmore
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy