Lingering Customs -- Rapid Disappearance of Old English Customs -- the Beautiful Custom of Hanging Garlands in Village Churches at the Funerals of Young Maidens, nearly extinct -- Character of the Primitive Times lingers in the Village Church -- Old-fashioned Congregations -- Genuine Old Village Clerk -- Circumstances occurring to the Author in Village Churches -- their Superstitions -- Village Notions of Angels and Cherubims -- Country Customs at Funerals -- Poetical Procession of Rush-bearing -- Sanding at Knutsford -- Eggs and Salt given to Children -- Eating Simnel Cake -- Riding Stang, May Bushes and their Significance -- Homage to the New Moon -- Charms -- Superstitions connected with the Foxglove, the Dog-rose, the Cuckoo, Pigeon’s Feathers, etc. -- Closing of Churchyards of late years -- Richard Howitt’s Remarks on this Practice 582 CHAPTER XVII. Education of the Rural Population -- what Education is doing, and leaving undone in the Poetry of Village Life -- Peculiar Social Condition of Surrey -- its Effect on the Peasantry -- Need of Schools -- Mr. Allen’s School of Industry at Lindfield in Sussex -- Schools of Industry established by the Earl of Lovelace, and Lady Noel Byron -- School of Lady Noel Byron, at Ealing, Middlesex -- School of the Earl of Lovelace, at Oakham, Surrey 593 CHAPTER XVIII. Concluding Chapter -- an extensive Observation of our own Country recommended -- Every Part presents some Variety of Beauty, Custom, or other Object worthy of Notice -- Some of these to be found on a Summer’s Route from London to Devon and Cornwall -- Others in Routes of the Solitary Pedestrian through the Western, Midland, and Northern Counties -- the wide Growth of the Spirit of Enjoyment in such Excursions -- Numbers which throng to all our Places of Natural Beauty, or Historic Interest -- Concluding Remarks 603 [Illustration] PART I. RURAL LIFE, PURSUITS, AND ADVANTAGES OF THE GENTRY OF ENGLAND. CHAPTER I. PRE-EMINENCE OF ENGLAND AS A PLACE OF COUNTRY RESIDENCE.