DORSET DEAR _BY THE SAME AUTHOR_ IN A NORTH COUNTRY VILLAGE THE STORY OF DAN A DAUGHTER OF THE SOIL MAIME O’ THE CORNER FRIEZE AND FUSTIAN AMONG THE UNTRODDEN WAYS MISS ERIN THE DUENNA OF A GENIUS YEOMAN FLEETWOOD PASTORALS OF DORSET FIANDER’S WIDOW NORTH, SOUTH, AND OVER THE SEA THE MANOR FARM CHRISTIAN THAL LYCHGATE HALL DORSET DEAR _IDYLLS OF COUNTRY LIFE_ BY M. E. FRANCIS (MRS. FRANCIS BLUNDELL) “Vor Do’set dear, Then gi’e woone cheer, D’ye hear? woone cheer!” --WILLIAM BARNES [Illustration] LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. 91 AND 93 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK LONDON AND BOMBAY 1905 _These stories originally appeared in_ Country Life, The Graphic, Longman’s Magazine _and_ The Illustrated London News. _The Author’s thanks are due to the Editors of these periodicals for their kind permission to reproduce them._ To the Memory OF LADY SMITH-MARRIOTT, KIND NEIGHBOUR AND TRUE FRIEND. CONTENTS. PAGE WITCH ANN 1 A RUNAWAY COUPLE 28 POSTMAN CHRIS 43 KEEPER GUPPY 60 THE WORM THAT TURNED 89 OLF AND THE LITTLE MAID 109 IN THE HEART OF THE GREEN 127 THE WOLD STOCKIN’ 149 A WOODLAND IDYLL 168 THE CARRIER’S TALE 192 MRS. SIBLEY AND THE SEXTON 207 THE CALL OF THE WOODS 222 THE HOME-COMING OF DADA 246 THE MAJESTY OF THE LAW 256 THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT 279 “A TERR’BLE VOOLISH LITTLE MAID” 296 SWEETBRIAR LANE 317 WITCH ANN. Ann Kerley had lived in great peace and contentment for more than seventy-three years. Her neighbours considered her a good plain ’ooman, who always had a kind word for every one, and was so ready to do a good turn for another body as heart could wish. But, lo and behold! one fine morning old Ann Kerley awoke to find herself a witch.