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Codgers also of the vineyard； but opposed to Mr。 Podgers； brotherly
tooth and nail。 Here； were guide…books to the neighbouring
antiquities； and eke the Lake country； in several dry and husky
sorts； here； many physically and morally impossible heads of both
sexes； for young ladies to copy； in the exercise of the art of
drawing； here； further； a large impression of MR。 SPURGEON； solid
as to the flesh； not to say even something gross。 The working
young men of Carlisle were drawn up； with their hands in their
pockets； across the pavements； four and six abreast； and appeared
（much to the satisfaction of Mr。 Idle） to have nothing else to do。
The working and growing young women of Carlisle； from the age of
twelve upwards； promenaded the streets in the cool of the evening；
and rallied the said young men。 Sometimes the young men rallied
the young women； as in the case of a group gathered round an
accordion…player； from among whom a young man advanced behind a
young woman for whom he appeared to have a tenderness； and hinted
to her that he was there and playful； by giving her （he wore clogs）
a kick。
On market morning； Carlisle woke up amazingly； and became （to the
two Idle Apprentices） disagreeably and reproachfully busy。 There
were its cattle market； its sheep market； and its pig market down
by the river； with raw…boned and shock…headed Rob Roys hiding their
Lowland dresses beneath heavy plaids； prowling in and out among the
animals； and flavouring the air with fumes of whiskey。 There was
its corn market down the main street； with hum of chaffering over
open sacks。 There was its general market in the street too； with
heather brooms on which the purple flower still flourished； and
heather baskets primitive and fresh to behold。 With women trying
on clogs and caps at open stalls； and 'Bible stalls' adjoining。
With 'Doctor Mantle's Dispensary for the cure of all Human Maladies
and no charge for advice；' and with Doctor Mantle's 'Laboratory of
Medical； Chemical； and Botanical Science' … both healing
institutions established on one pair of trestles； one board； and
one sun…blind。 With the renowned phrenologist from London； begging
to be favoured （at sixpence each） with the company of clients of
both sexes； to whom； on examination of their heads； he would make
revelations 'enabling him or her to know themselves。' Through all
these bargains and blessings； the recruiting…sergeant watchfully
elbowed his way； a thread of War in the peaceful skein。 Likewise
on the walls were printed hints that the Oxford Blues might not be
indisposed to hear of a few fine active young men； and that whereas
the standard of that distinguished corps is full six feet； 'growing
lads of five feet eleven' need not absolutely despair of being
accepted。
Scenting the morning air more pleasantly than the buried majesty of
Denmark did； Messrs。 Idle and Goodchild rode away from Carlisle at
eight o'clock one forenoon； bound for the village of Hesket；
Newmarket； some fourteen miles distant。 Goodchild （who had already
begun to doubt whether he was idle： as his way always is when he
has nothing to do） had read of a certain black old Cumberland hill
or mountain； called Carrock； or Carrock Fell； and had arrived at
the conclusion that it would be the culminating triumph of Idleness
to ascend the same。 Thomas Idle； dwelling on the pains inseparable
from that achievement； had expressed the strongest doubts of the
expediency； and even of the sanity； of the enterprise； but
Goodchild had carried his point； and they rode away。
Up hill and down hill； and twisting to the right； and twisting to
the left； and with old Skiddaw （who has vaunted himself a great
deal more than his merits deserve； but that is rather the way of
the Lake country）； dodging the apprentices in a picturesque and
pleasant manner。 Good； weather…proof； warm； pleasant houses； well
white…limed； scantily dotting the road。 Clean children coming out
to look； carrying other clean children as big as themselves。
Harvest still lying out and much rained upon； here and there；
harvest still unreaped。 Well…cultivated gardens attached to the
cottages； with plenty of produce forced out of their hard soil。
Lonely nooks； and wild； but people can be born； and married； and
buried in such nooks； and can live and love； and be loved； there as
elsewhere； thank God！ （Mr。 Goodchild's remark。） By…and…by； the
village。 Black； coarse…stoned； rough…windowed houses； some with
outer staircases； like Swiss houses； a sinuous and stony gutter
winding up hill and round the corner； by way of street。 All the
children running out directly。 Women pausing in washing； to peep
from doorways and very little windows。 Such were the observations
of Messrs。 Idle and Goodchild； as their conveyance stopped at the
village shoemaker's。 Old Carrock gloomed down upon it all in a
very ill…tempered state； and rain was beginning。
The village shoemaker declined to have anything to do with Carrock。
No visitors went up Carrock。 No visitors came there at all。 Aa'
the world ganged awa' yon。 The driver appealed to the Innkeeper。
The Innkeeper had two men working in the fields； and one of them
should be called in； to go up Carrock as guide。 Messrs。 Idle and
Goodchild； highly approving； entered the Innkeeper's house； to
drink whiskey and eat oatcake。
The Innkeeper was not idle enough … was not idle at all； which was
a great fault in him … but was a fine specimen of a north…country
man； or any kind of man。 He had a ruddy cheek； a bright eye； a
well…knit frame； an immense hand； a cheery； outspeaking voice； and
a straight； bright； broad look。 He had a drawing…room； too；
upstairs； which was worth a visit to the Cumberland Fells。 （This
was Mr。 Francis Goodchild's opinion； in which Mr。 Thomas Idle did
not concur。）
The ceiling of this drawing…room was so crossed and recrossed by
beams of unequal lengths； radiating from a centre； in a corner；
that it looked like a broken star…fish。 The room was comfortably
and solidly furnished with good mahogany and horsehair。 It had a
snug fireside； and a couple of well…curtained windows； looking out
upon the wild country behind the house。 What it most developed
was； an unexpected taste for little ornaments and nick…nacks； of
which it contained a most surprising number。 They were not very
various； consisting in great part of waxen babies with their limbs
more or less mutilated； appealing on one leg to the parental
affections from under little cupping glasses； but； Uncle Tom was
there； in crockery； receiving theological instructions from Miss
Eva； who grew out of his side like a wen； in an exceedingly rough
state of profile propagandism。 Engravings of Mr。 Hunt's country
boy； before and after his pie； were on the wall； divided by a
highly…coloured nautical piece； the subject of which had all her
colours （and more） flying； and was making great way through a sea
of a regular pattern； like a lady's collar。 A benevolent； elderly
gentleman of the last century； with a powdered head； kept guard； in
oil and varnish； over a most perplexing piece of furniture on a
table； in appearance between a driving seat and an angular knife…
box； but； when opened； a musical instrument of tinkling wires；
exactly like David's harp packed for travelling。 Everything became
a nick…nack in this curious room。 The copper tea…kettle； burnished
up to the highest point of glory； took his station on a stand of
his own at the greatest possible distance from the fireplace； and
said： 'By your leave； not a kettle； but a bijou。' The
Staffordshire…ware butter…dish with the cover on； got upon a little
round occasional table in a window； with a worked top； and
announced itself to the two chairs accidentally placed there； as an
aid to polite conversation； a graceful trifle in china to be
chatted over by callers； as they airily trifled away the visiting
moments of a butterfly existence； in that rugged old village on the
Cumberland Fells。 The very footstool could not keep the floor； but
got upon a sofa； and there…from proclaimed itself； in high relief
of white and liver…coloured wool； a favourite spaniel coiled up for
repose。 Though； truly； in spite of its bright glass eyes； the
spaniel was the least successful assumption in the collection：
being perfectly flat； and dismally suggestive of a recent mistake
in sitting down on the part of some corpulent member of the family。
There were books； too； in this room； books on the table； books on
the chimney…piece； books in an open press in the corner。 Fielding
was there； and Smollett was there； and Steele and Addison were
there； in dispersed volumes； and there were tales of those who go
down to the sea in ships； for windy nights； and there was really a
choice of good books for rainy days or fine。 It was so very
pleasant to see these things in such a lonesome by…place … so very
agreeable to find the