Storeys of Old.

worked as a nurseryman, imbibing a passion for shrubs and flowers; but his wish to be a gardener was not gratified, for at Whitsuntide he returned to his father, who, meanwhile had removed to Reedsford, where to assist in maintaining the home Robert was sent to keep sheep and cattle on Howsden. During the following winter he kept sheep at Crookham with a shepherd named Howey, who was a religious man. Whilst at Howtel a copy of "Watts's Divine Songs" took his fancy so much that he committed nearly the whole of them to memory. Howey also took great pains to engraft sacred poetry on his. mind, and thus the Christian muse became the earliest preceptor of his own, for, at the tender age of eleven he began to scribble imitations of Watts. It would be unjust to his father to say that his piety was now first awakened for his mind had been very early influenced with devotional feelings.

His father's end now fast approached. Worn out by hard work and anxiety he died in middle age. After a week of severe toil in threshing, assisted by Robert, he fell ill, and passing that day and the next night in great agony he expired on the following morning, May 14th, 1809, a day, the anniversary of which the poet never allowed to pass without a feeling of chastened sorrow. Robert often dwelt with pleasure on the character his father bore. He loved his children, by whom he was tenderly loved in return, and if anything disturbed his last moments it was the fact that not one of them was present, for all, except Robert, resided away, and he had been sent to inform his brothers and sisters of the impending danger, and only returned to find him dead. A touching anecdote is related by the poet of his father as he lay in his coffin with flowers strewn over him; a neighbouring farmer's wife laid her hand on his breast and in the presence of the bystanders exclaimed, "Here lies honest Robin Story," praise worth more than a panegyric of kings.

And now commences Robert Story's entrance into the world. The death of his father made it needful that he should take steps for earning a livelihood. Accordingly he began work as a labourer in the fields, but this was a destiny to which his mother was averse, as she considered that he had received a great education, Having heard that a schoolmaster was wanted at Humbleton she went there and took a cottage and schoolhouse at a rent of £4 per year, and although little more than 14 he commenced as schoolmaster in June, 1810. His acquirements consisted of reading, writing, and a partial acquaintance with arithmetic. His school became a wonderful success, for his pupils, being young, made rapid progress. Unfortunately a company of strolling players visited the neighbouring town of Wooler, and Robert took his scholars to witness the performance. A mimic mania seized both master and scholars, and imitations, which at first were confined to the noon hour, began to encroach on the school duties. The parents took offence, and gradually withdrew their children, with the result that his first attempt as a schoolmaster proved a signal failure. During his stay at Humbleton he made the acquaintance of John Smith, a youth not much older than himself, who had received a superior education and improved it by reading. He, too, like Robert Story, wrote poetry, and soon a lasting friendship sprang up between them, which ended only with the death of poor Smith, who died a maniac. The walks of these two young friends were usually upon Green Houndheugh, and there they rambled, talking