Saturday 13th. It snowed a little this morning — still at work at the Pedlar, altering & refitting. We did not walk though it was a very fine day. We received a present of Eggs & milk from Janet Dockeray, & just before she went the little Boy from the Hill brought us a letter from Sara H, & one from the Frenchman in London. I wrote to Sara after tea & Wm took out his old newspapers, & the new ones came in soon after. We sate, after I had finished the letter, talking & William read parts of his Recluse aloud to me — we did not drink tea till ½ past 7.
Sunday 14th February. A fine morning the sun shines but it has been a hard frost in the night. There are some little snowdrops that are afraid to pop their white heads quite out, & a few blossoms of Hepatica that are half starved. William left me at work altering some passages of the Pedlar, & went into the orchard — the fine day pushed him on to resolve & as soon as I had read a letter to him which I had just received from Mrs Clarkson he said he would go to Penrith, so Molly was dispatched for the horse — I worked hard, got the backs pasted the writing finished, & all quite trim. I wrote to Mrs Clarkson & put up some letters for Mary H — & off he went in his blue Spenser & a pair of new pantaloons fresh from London. He turned back when he had got as far as Franks to ask if he had his letters safe, then for some apples — then fairly off. We had money to borrow for him. —— It was a pleasant afternoon. I ate a little bit of cold mutton without laying cloth & then sate over the fire reading Ben Jonson’s Penshurst, & other things. Before sunset I put on my shawl & walked out. The snow-covered mountains were spotted with rich sunlight, a palish buffish colour. The roads were very dirty, for though it was a keen frost the sun had melted the snow & water upon them. I stood at Saras gate & when I came in view of Rydale I cast a long look upon the mountains beyond. They were very white but I concluded that Wm would have a very safe passage over Kirkstone, & I was quite easy about him.
PART III. 14 FEBRUARY 1802 - 2 MAY, 1802
Sunday 14th February 1802. See the morning former book. After dinner a little before sunset I walked out. About 20 yards above glowworm Rock I met a Carman, a Highland)er I suppose, with 4 Carts, the first 3 belonging to himself, the last evidently to a man & his family who had joined company with him & who I guessed to be Potters. The Carman was cheering his horses & talking to a little Lass about 10 years of age who seemed to make him her companion. She ran to the Wall & took up a large stone to support the wheel of one of his carts & ran on before with it in her arms to be ready for him. She was a beautiful Creature & there was something uncommonly impressive in the lightness & joyousness of her manner. Her business seemed to be all pleasure — pleasure in her own motions — & the man looked at her as if he too was pleased & spoke to her in the same tone in which he spoke to his horses. There was a wildness in her whole figure, not the wildness of a Mountain lass but a Road lass, a traveller from her Birth, who had wanted neither food nor clothes. Her Mother followed the last cart with a lovely child, perhaps about a year old, at her Back & a good-looking girl about 15 years old walked beside her. All the children were like the mother. She had a very fresh complexion, but she was blown with fagging up the hill with the steepness of the hill & the Bairn that she carried. Her husband was helping the horse to drag the cart up by pushing it with his Shoulder. I got tea when I reached home & read German till about 9 o clock. Then Molly went away & I wrote to Coleridge. Went to bed at about 12 o clock. I slept in Wm’s bed, & I slept badly, for my thoughts were full of William.
Monday 15th February 1802. I was starching small linen all the morning. It snowed a good deal & was terribly cold. After dinner it was fair, but I was obliged to run all the way to the foot of the White Moss to get the least bit of warmth into me. I found a letter from C — he was much better — this was very satisfactory but his letter was not an answer to William’s which I expected. A letter from Annette. I got tea when I reached home & then set on to reading German. I wrote part of a letter to Coleridge, went late to bed & slept badly.
Tuesday 16th. A fine morning but I had persuaded myself not to expect William, I believe because I was afraid of being disappointed — I ironed all day — he came in just at Tea time, had only seen Mary H — for a couple of hours between Emont Bridge & Hartshorn tree —— Mrs C better. He had had a difficult journey over Kirkstone, & came home by Threlkeld — his mouth & breath were very cold when he kissed me. We spent a sweet Evening — he was better — had altered the pedlar. We went to bed pretty soon & we slept better than we expected & had no bad dreams. Mr Graham said he wished William had been with him the other day — he was riding in a post chaise & he heard a strange cry that he could not understand, the sound continued & he called to the chaise driver to stop. It was a little girl that was crying as if her heart would burst. She had got up behind the chaise & her cloak had been caught by the wheel & was jammed in & it hung there. She was crying after it. Poor thing. Mr Graham took her into the Chaise & the cloak was released from the wheel but the Childs misery did not cease for her Cloak was torn to rags; it had been a miserable cloak before, but she had no other & it was the greatest sorrow that could befal her. Her name was Alice Fell. She had no parents, & belonged to the next Town. At the next Town Mr G left money with some respectable people in the Town to buy her a new cloak.
Wednesday 17th. A miserable clashy snowy morning. We did not walk. But the old man from the Hill brought us a short letter from Mary H. I copied the 2nd part of Peter Bell. William pretty well.
Thursday 18th. A foggy morning but it cleared up in the afternoon & Wm went to Mrs Simpson’s to Tea. I went with him to Goan Mackareth’s. Roads very dirty. I copied third part of Peter Bell in his absence & began a letter to Coleridge. Wm came in with a letter from Coleridge that came by Keswick. We talked together till 11 o clock. Then Wm got to work & was the worse for it Hard frost.
Friday 19th. Hard frost this morning — but it soon snowed then thawed, a miserable afternoon. Williamson came & cut William’s hair — I wrote to C — he carried the letter to Ambleside. Afterwards I wrote to Mary & Sara, tired & went early to bed.
Saturday 20th. A very rainy morning, but it cleared up a little we walked to Rydale. There were no letters. The Roads were very dirty — we met little Dawson on horseback & desired him to bring us paper from Mrs Jamesons. After Tea I wrote the first part of Peter Bell — William better.
Sunday 21st. A very wet morning. I wrote the 2nd prologue to Peter Bell, then went to Mrs Olliffs. After dinner I wrote the 1st Prologue. William walked to the Tailor’s while I was at Mrs O’s it rained all the time. Snowdrops quite out, but cold & winterly — yet for all this a thrush that lives in our orchard has shouted & sung its merriest all day long. In the evening I wrote to Mrs Clarkson, & my Br Richard. Wm went to bed exhausted.
Monday 22nd. A wet morning. I lay down as soon as breakfast was over very unwell. I slept. Wm brought me 4 letters to bed — from Annette & Caroline, Mary & Sara, & Coleridge — C had had another attack in his Bowels — otherwise mending. M & S both well — M reached Middle-ham the Monday night before at 12 o clock. Tom there. — In the evening we walked to the Top of the hill, then to the bridge, we hung over the wall, & looked at the deep stream below; it came with a full steady yet very rapid flow down to the lake. The sykes made a sweet sound everywhere, & looked very interesting in the twilight. That little one above Mr Olliffs house was very impressive, a ghostly white serpent line — it made a sound most distinctly heard of itself. The mountains were black & steep — the tops of some of them having yet snow visible, but it rained so hard last night that much of it has been washed away. After tea I was just going to write to Coleridge when Mr Simpson came in. Wm began to read Peter Bell to him so I carried my writing to the kitchen fire. Wm called me up stairs to read the 3rd part. Mr S had brought his first engraving to let us see — he supped with us. William was tired with reading & talking & went to bed in bad spirits.
Tuesday 23rd. A misty rainy morning — the lake calm. I baked bread & pies. Before dinner worked a little at Wm’s
waistcoat — after dinner read German Grammar. Before tea we walked into Easedale we turned aside in the Parson’s field a pretty field with 3 pretty prospects. Then we went to the first large field, but such a cold wind met us that we turn’d again. The wind seemed warm when we came out of our own door. That Dear thrush was singing upon the topmost of the smooth branches of the Ash tree at the top of the orchard. How long it had been perched on that same tree I cannot tell but we had heard its dear voice in the orchard the day through, along with a chearful undersong made by our winter friends the Robins. We came home by Goan’s. I picked up a few mosses by the Roadside, which I left at home. We then went to John’s Grove, there we sate a little while looking at the fading landscape. The lake, though the objects on the shore were fading, seemed brighter than when it is perfect day, & the Island pushed itself upwards, distinct & large — all the shores marked. There was a sweet sea-like sound in the trees above our heads, we walked backwards & forwards some time for dear John’s sake. Then walked to look at Rydale. Darkish when we reached home & we got tea immediately with Candles. — William now reading in Bishop Hall — I going to read German, we have a nice singing fire, with one piece of wood. Fletcher’s carts are arrived but no papers from Mrs Coleridge.
Wednesday 24th. A rainy Day. We were busy all day unripping William’s Coats for the tailor. William wrote to Annette, to Coleridge & the Frenchman. I received a letter from Mrs Clarkson, a very kind affecting letter which I answered telling her I would go to Eusemere when William went to Keswick. I wrote a little bit to Coleridge — we sent off these letters by Fletcher. It was a tremendous night of wind & Rain. Poor Coleridge! A sad night for a traveller such as he. God be praised he was in safe quarters. Wm went out & put the letters under the door — he never felt a colder night.
Thursday 25th. — A fine mild grey beautiful morning. The tailor here — I worked at unripping. William wrote to Montagu in the morning. After dinner he went to Lloyds — I accompanied him to the gate in the corner or turning of the Vale close to the River side beyond Lenty Flemings Cottage. It was coldish & like for frost — a clear evening. I reached home just before dark, brought some mosses & ivy, then got tea, & fell to work at German. I read a good deal of Lessing’s Essay. William came home between nine & 10 o clock. We sate nicely together by the fire till bed-time. William not very much tired I was bad in my Bowels.
Friday 26th. A grey morning till 10 o’clock. Then the sun shone beautifully. Mrs Lloyds children & Mrs Luff came in a chaise, were here at 11 o’clock then went to Mrs Olliffs — Wm & I accompanied them to the gate. I prepared dinner, sought out Peter Bell, gave Wm some cold meat, & then we went to walk. We walked first to Butterlip How, where we sate & overlooked the Vale, no sign of spring but the Red tints of the upper twigs of the Woods & single trees — sate in the sun — met Charles Lloyd near the Bridge. Got dinner, I lay down unwell — got up to tea. Mr & Mrs Luff walked home. The Lloyds stayed till 8 o’clock. We always get on better with conversation at home than elsewhere — discussion about Mrs King & Mrs Olliff. — The Chaise driver brought us a letter from M H — a short one from C. We were perplexed about Saras coming. I wrote to Mary. Wm closed his letter to Montagu, & wrote to Calvert & to Mrs Coleridge. Birds sang divinely today. Bowels & head bad. William better.
Saturday 27th. We walked in the afternoon towards Rydale returning to tea. Mr Barth Simpson called after supper a little tipsy. Fletcher said he had had no papers. Wm was not very well. I sate in the orchard after dinner — we walked in the evening towards Rydale.
Sunday 28th February. Wm very ill, employed with the pedlar. We got papers in the morning. William shaved himself. I was obliged to go to bed after dinner — rose better — Wrote to Sara H & Mrs Clarkson — no walk — disaster pedlar.
Monday (1st March). A fine pleasant day, we walked to Rydale. I went on before for the letters, brought 2 from M & S. H — we climbed over the wall & read them under the shelter of a mossy rock. We met Mrs Lloyd in going — Mrs Olliffs child ill. The Catkins are beautiful in the hedges. The ivy is very green. Robert Newtons Paddock is greenish — that is all we see of spring. Finished & sent off the Letter to Sara & wrote to Mary. Wrote again to Sara, & William wrote to Coleridge. Mrs Lloyd called when I was in bed.
Tuesday (2nd). A fine grey morning. I was baking bread & pies. After dinner I read german & a little before dinner — Wm also read. We walked on Butterlip How under the wind it rained all the while, but we had a pleasant walk. The mountains of Easedale, black or covered with snow at the tops, gave a peculiar softness to the valley. The clouds hid the tops of some of them. The valley was populous, & enlivened with streams. — Mrs Lloyd drove past without calling.
Wednesday (3rd). I was so unlucky as to propose to rewrite The Pedlar. Wm got to work & was worn to death, we did not walk I wrote in the afternoon.
Thursday (4th). Before we had quite finished Breakfast Calvert’s man brought the horses for Wm. We had a deal to do to shave — pens to make — poems to put in order for writing, to settle the dress pack up &c & The man came before the pens were made & he was obliged to leave me with only two — Since he has left me (at ½ past 11) it is now 2 I have been putting the Drawers into order, laid by his clothes which we had thrown here & there & everywhere, filed two months’ newspapers & got my dinner 2 boiled Eggs & 2 apple tarts. I have set Molly on to clear the garden a little, & I myself have helped. I transplanted some snowdrops — The Bees are busy — Wm has a rich bright day — It was hard frost in the night — The Robins are singing sweetly — Now for my walk. I will be busy, I will look well & be well when he comes back to me. O the Darling! here is one of his bitten apples! I can hardly find in my heart to throw it into the fire. I must wash myself, then off — I walked round the two Lakes crossed the stepping stones at Rydale Foot. Sate down where we always sit I was full of thoughts about my darling. Blessings on him. I came home at the foot of our own lake under Loughrigg. They are making sad ravages in the woods — Benson’s Wood is going & the wood above the River. The wind has blown down a small fir tree on the Rock that terminates John’s path — I suppose the wind of Wednesday night. I read German after my return till tea time. After tea I worked & read the LB, enchanted with the Idiot Boy. Wrote to Wm then went to Bed. It snowed when I went to Bed.
Friday (5th). First walked in the Garden & Orchard — a frosty sunny morning. After dinner I gathered mosses in Easedale. I saw before me sitting in the open field upon his Sack of Rags the old Ragman that I know — his coat is of Scarlet in a thousand patches his Breeches knees were untied — the Breeches have been given him by some one — he has a round hat pretty good, small crowned but large rimmed. When I came, to me He said Is there a Brigg yonder that’ll carry me ower t’watter? He seemed half stupid. When I came home Molly had shook the Carpet & cleaned every thing up stairs. When I see her so happy in her work & exulting in her own importance I often think of that affecting expression which she made use of to me one evening lately — talking of her good luck in being in this house, ‘Aye Mistress them ‘at’s Low laid would have been a proud creature could they but have (seen) where I is now fra what they thought mud be my Doom.’ — I was tired when I reached home, I sent Molly Ashburner to Rydale. No letters! I was sadly mortified. I expected one fully from Coleridge — wrote to William. Read the LB, got into sad thoughts, tried at German but could not go on — Read LB. — Blessings on that Brother of mine! Beautiful new moon over Silver How.
Saturday Morning (6th). I awoke with a bad head ache & partly on that account partly for ease I lay in bed till one o clock. At one I pulled off my nightcap — ½ past one sate down to breakfast — a very cold sunshiny frost. I wrote the Pedlar & finished it before I went to Mr Simpsons to drink tea. Miss S at Keswick but she came home. Mrs Jameson came in I stayed supper. Fletcher’s carts went past & I let them go with William’s letter. Mr BS. came nearly home with me. I found letters from Wm, Mary & Coleridge. I wrote to C. Sate up late & could not fall asleep when I went to bed.
Sunday Morning (7th). A very fine clear frost. I stitched up the Pedlar — wrote out Ruth — read it with the alterations. Then wrote Mar}’ H. Read a little German — got my dinner. Mrs Lloyd called at the door; & in came William. I did not expect him till tomorrow — How glad I was. After we had talked about an hour I gave him his dinner a Beef Steak, we sate talking & happy. Mr & Miss Simpson came in at Tea time. William came home very well — he had been a little fatigued with reading his poems — he brought two new stanzas of Ruth. We went to bed pretty soon & slept well. A mild grey evening.
Delphi Complete Works of William Wordsworth Page 479