Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents, and Strange EventsBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
History
Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents, and Strange Events
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Legends -- England -- Yorkshire; Yorkshire (England) -- Miscellanea
When they had gone a little way upon the forest the gentleman saw a
light. He asked what place it was. There were some rocks called Hookston
Crags, and near to these the ground was low and swampy in some places,
close by which runs the Leeds road. About this part will-o'-the-wisp
used to be commonly seen. Metcalf took it for granted that his companion
had seen one of these lights, but for good reasons declined asking him
whereabouts the light was; and to divert his attention, asked him, "Do
you not see two lights--one to the right, the other to the left?"--"No,"
replied the gentleman, "I see but one--to the right."--"Well, then,
sir," said Metcalf, "that is Harrogate." There were then many tracks,
but Metcalf made choice of that nearest the fence. By the side of this
path, which is very near Harrogate, some larches were planted, and
stepping-stones laid for the convenience of foot-passengers. Metcalf
got upon this stony path, and the gentleman's horse following, got one
of his hind feet jammed between two of the stones. When his horse was
freed, he asked, "Is there no other road?"--"Yes," replied Metcalf,
"there is another, but it's a mile about"; knowing there was a dirty
cart-way, but thinking the stony road preferable to the deep slough of
the other, he preferred this rugged path.
On reaching their journey's end, they stopped at the house called the
Marquis of Granby, but found that the hostler was gone to bed. Metcalf
being very well acquainted with the place, led both the horses into the
stable and the hostler soon after appearing, he delivered them into his
care, and went into the house to inquire after his fellow-traveller,
whom he found comfortably seated over a tankard of negus, in which he
pledged his guide. Metcalf took the tankard the first time very nicely,
but when attempting to take it the second time, he reached out his hand
wide of the mark; however, he soon found it, and drank, and going out
again, left the landlord with his companion. "I think, landlord," said
the gentleman, "my guide must have drunk a great deal of spirits since
we came here."--"Why, my good sir, what makes you think so?"--"Well, I
judge so from the appearance of his eyes."--"Eyes! bless you, sir,"
rejoined the landlord, "do you not know that he is blind?"--"What do you
mean?"--"I mean, sir, that he cannot see!"--"Blind! Are you in
earnest?"--"Yes, sir; as blind as a stone!"--"Come, come, landlord,"
said the gentleman, "this is too much. Call him in." Metcalf entered.
"My friend, are you really blind?"--"Yes, sir; I lost my sight when six
years old."--"Had I known that, I would not have ventured with you for a
hundred pounds."--"And I, sir," said Metcalf, "would not have lost my
way for a thousand." Metcalf was rewarded by a present of two guineas,
besides a plentiful entertainment the next day at the cost of this
gentleman.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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