HowthewholecountrysideteemswithSaxonnamesandmemories！
　　AndtheoldmoatedgrangeatCompton，nestledcloseunderthehillside，wheretwentyMarianasmayhavelived，withitsbrightwater-liliesinthemoat，anditsyewwalk，“thecloisterwalk，“
　　anditspeerlessterracedgardens。Theretheyallare，andtwentythingsbeside，forthosewhocareaboutthem，andhaveeyes。Andthesearethesortofthingsyoumayfind，Ibelieve，everyoneofyou，inanycommonEnglishcountryneighbourhood。
　　Willyoulookforthemunderyourownnoses，orwillyounot？
　　Well，well，I’vedonewhatIcantomakeyou；andifyouwillgogaddingoverhalfEuropenow，everyholidays，Ican’thelpit。
　　Iwasbornandbredawest-countryman，thankGod！aWessexman，acitizenofthenoblestSaxonkingdomofWessex，aregular“AngularSaxon，“theverysoulofmeadscriptusglebae。There’snothingliketheoldcountry-sideforme，andnomusiclikethetwangoftherealoldSaxontongue，asonegetsitfreshfromtheveritablechawintheWhiteHorseVale；andIsaywith“GaargeRidler，“theoldwest-countryyeoman，-
　　“ThrooaallthewaarldowldGaargewouldbwoast，CommendmetomerryowldEnglandmwoast；
　　Whilevoolsgwoespratingvurandnigh，Westwopsatwhum，mydogandI。“
　　Here，atanyrate，livedandstoppedathomeSquireBrown，J。P。
　　forthecountyofBerks，inavillagenearthefootoftheWhiteHorserange。Andherehedealtoutjusticeandmercyinaroughway，andbegatsonsanddaughters，andhuntedthefox，andgrumbledatthebadnessoftheroadsandthetimes。Andhiswifedealtoutstockings，andcalicoshirts，andsmockfrocks，andcomfortingdrinkstotheoldfolkswiththe“rheumatiz，“andgoodcounseltoall；andkeptthecoalandclothes’clubsgoing，foryule-tide，whenthebandsofmummerscameround，dressedoutinribbonsandcolouredpapercaps，andstampedroundtheSquire’skitchen，repeatingintruesing-songvernacularthelegendofSt。Georgeandhisfight，andtheten-pounddoctor，whoplayshispartathealingtheSaint——arelic，Ibelieve，oftheoldMiddle-agemysteries。ItwasthefirstdramaticrepresentationwhichgreetedtheeyesoflittleTom，whowasbroughtdownintothekitchenbyhisnursetowitnessit，atthematureageofthreeyears。Tomwastheeldestchildofhisparents，andfromhisearliestbabyhoodexhibitedthefamilycharacteristicsingreatstrength。Hewasahearty，strongboyfromthefirst，giventofightingwithandescapingfromhisnurse，andfraternizingwithallthevillageboys，withwhomhemadeexpeditionsallroundtheneighbourhood。Andhere，inthequietold-fashionedcountryvillage，undertheshadowoftheeverlastinghills，TomBrownwasreared，andneverleftittillhewentfirsttoschool，whennearlyeightyearsofage，forinthosedayschangeofairtwiceayearwasnotthoughtabsolutelynecessaryforthehealthofallherMajesty’slieges。
　　Ihavebeencrediblyinformed，andaminclinedtobelieve，thatthevariousboardsofdirectorsofrailwaycompanies，thosegiganticjobbersandbribers，whilequarrellingabouteverythingelse，agreedtogethersometenyearsbacktobuyupthelearnedprofessionofmedicine，bodyandsoul。Tothisendtheysetapartseveralmillionsofmoney，whichtheycontinuallydistributejudiciouslyamongthedoctors，stipulatingonlythisonething，thattheyshallprescribechangeofairtoeverypatientwhocanpay，orborrowmoneytopay，arailwayfare，andseetheirprescriptioncarriedout。Ifitbenotforthis，whyisitthatnoneofuscanbewellathomeforayeartogether？
　　Itwasn’tsotwentyyearsago，notabitofit。TheBrownsdidn’tgooutofthecountryonceinfiveyears。AvisittoReadingorAbingdontwiceayear，atassizesorquartersessions，whichtheSquiremadeonhishorsewithapairofsaddle-bagscontaininghiswardrobe，astayofadayortwoatsomecountryneighbour’s，oranexpeditiontoacountyballortheyeomanryreview，madeupthesumoftheBrownlocomotioninmostyears。AstrayBrownfromsomedistantcountydroppedineverynowandthen；orfromOxford，ongravenag，anolddon，contemporaryoftheSquire；andwerelookeduponbytheBrownhouseholdandthevillagerswiththesamesortoffeelingwithwhichwenowregardamanwhohascrossedtheRockyMountains，orlaunchedaboatontheGreatLakeinCentralAfrica。TheWhiteHorseVale，remember，wastraversedbynogreatroad——
　　nothingbutcountryparishroads，andtheseverybad。Onlyonecoachranthere，andthisoneonlyfromWantagetoLondon，sothatthewesternpartoftheValewaswithoutregularmeansofmovingon，andcertainlydidn’tseemtowantthem。Therewasthecanal，bytheway，whichsuppliedthecountry-sidewithcoal，andupanddownwhichcontinuallywentthelongbarges，withthebigblackmenloungingbythesideofthehorsesalongthetowing-path，andthewomeninbright-colouredhandkerchiefsstandinginthesternssteering。StandingIsay，butyoucouldneverseewhethertheywerestandingorsitting，allbuttheirheadsandshouldersbeingoutofsightinthecozylittlecabinswhichoccupiedsomeeightfeetofthestern，andwhichTomBrownpicturedtohimselfasthemostdesirableofresidences。Hisnursetoldhimthatthosegood-natured-lookingwomenwereintheconstanthabitofenticingchildrenintothebarges，andtakingthemuptoLondonandsellingthem，whichTomwouldn’tbelieve，andwhichmadehimresolveassoonaspossibletoaccepttheoft-profferedinvitationofthesesirensto“youngmaster“tocomeinandhavearide。ButasyetthenursewastoomuchforTom。
　　YetwhyshouldI，afterall，abusethegadaboutpropensitiesofmycountrymen？Weareavagabondnationnow，that’scertain，forbetterforworse。Iamavagabond；Ihavebeenawayfromhomenolessthanfivedistincttimesinthelastyear。TheQueensetsustheexample:wearemovingonfromtoptobottom。
　　LittledirtyJack，whoabidesinClement’sInngateway，andblacksmybootsforapenny，takeshismonth’shop-pickingeveryyearasamatterofcourse。Whyshouldn’the？I’mdelightedatit。Ilovevagabonds，onlyIpreferpoortorichones。
　　Couriersandladies’-maids，imperialsandtravellingcarriages，areanabominationuntome；Icannotawaywiththem。ButfordirtyJack，andeverygoodfellowwho，inthewordsofthecapitalFrenchsong，movesabout，“Commelelimacon，Portanttoutsonbagage，Sesmeubles，samaison，“
　　onhisownback，why，goodlucktothem，andmanyamerryroadsideadventure，andsteamingsupperinthechimneycornersofroadsideinns，Swisschalets，Hottentotkraals，orwhereverelsetheyliketogo。So，havingsucceededincontradictingmyselfinmyfirstchapterwhichgivesmegreathopesthatyouwillallgoon，andthinkmeagoodfellownotwithstandingmycrotchets，Ishallhereshutupforthepresent，andconsidermyways；havingresolvedto“sar’itout，“aswesayintheVale，“holusbolus“justasitcomes，andthenyou’llprobablygetthetruthoutofme。
　　“AndtheKingcommandethandforbiddeth，thatfromhenceforthneitherfairsnormarketsbekeptinChurchyards，forthehonouroftheChurch。“-STATUTES:13Edw。I。Stat。II。cap。vi。
　　Asthatvenerableandlearnedpoetwhosevoluminousworksweallthinkitthecorrectthingtoadmireandtalkabout，butdon’treadoftenmosttrulysays，“Thechildisfathertotheman；“afortiori，therefore，hemustbefathertotheboy。SoaswearegoingatanyratetoseeTomBrownthroughhisboyhood，supposingwenevergetanyfartherwhich，ifyoushowapropersenseofthevalueofthishistory，thereisnoknowingbutwhatwemay，letushavealookatthelifeandenvironmentsofthechildinthequietcountryvillagetowhichwewereintroducedinthelastchapter。
　　Tom，ashasbeenalreadysaid，wasarobustandcombativeurchin，andattheageoffourbegantostruggleagainsttheyokeandauthorityofhisnurse。Thatfunctionarywasagood-
　　hearted，tearful，scatter-brainedgirl，latelytakenbyTom’smother，MadamBrown，asshewascalled，fromthevillageschooltobetrainedasnurserymaid。MadamBrownwasararetrainerofservants，andspentherselffreelyintheprofession；forprofessionitwas，andgavehermoretroublebyhalfthanmanypeopletaketoearnagoodincome。Herservantswereknownandsoughtafterformilesround。Almostallthegirlswhoattainedacertainplaceinthevillageschoolweretakenbyher，oneortwoatatime，ashousemaids，laundrymaids，nurserymaids，orkitchenmaids，andafterayearortwo’strainingwerestartedinlifeamongsttheneighbouringfamilies，withgoodprinciplesandwardrobes。OneoftheresultsofthissystemwastheperpetualdespairofMrs。Brown’scookandownmaid，whonosoonerhadanotablegirlmadetotheirhandsthanmissuswassuretofindagoodplaceforherandsendheroff，takinginfreshimportationsfromtheschool。Anotherwas，thatthehousewasalwaysfullofyounggirls，withclean，shiningfaces，whobrokeplatesandscorchedlinen，butmadeanatmosphereofcheerful，homelylifeabouttheplace，goodforeveryonewhocamewithinitsinfluence。Mrs。Brownlovedyoungpeople，andinfacthumancreaturesingeneral，aboveplatesandlinen。Theyweremorelikealotofelderchildrenthanservants，andfelttohermoreasamotherorauntthanasamistress。
　　Tom’snursewasonewhotookinherinstructionveryslowly——
　　sheseemedtohavetwolefthandsandnohead；andsoMrs。Brownkeptheronlongerthanusual，thatshemightexpendherawkwardnessandforgetfulnessuponthosewhowouldnotjudgeandpunishhertoostrictlyforthem。
　　CharityLambwashername。IthadbeentheimmemorialhabitofthevillagetochristenchildreneitherbyBiblenames，orbythoseofthecardinalandothervirtues；sothatonewasforeverhearinginthevillagestreetoronthegreen，shrillsoundsof“Prudence！Prudence！theecum’outo’thegutter；“or，“Mercy！dratthegirl，whatbisttheea-doin’wi’littleFaith？“
　　andtherewereRuths，Rachels，Keziahs，ineverycorner。Thesamewiththeboys:theywereBenjamins，Jacobs，Noahs，Enochs。
　　IsupposethecustomhascomedownfromPuritantimes。Thereitis，atanyrate，verystrongstillintheVale。
　　Well，fromearlymorningtilldewyeve，whenshehaditoutofhiminthecoldtubbeforeputtinghimtobed，CharityandTomwerepittedagainstoneanother。PhysicalpowerwasasyetonthesideofCharity，butshehadn’tachancewithhimwhereverheadworkwaswanted。Thiswarofindependencebeganeverymorningbeforebreakfast，whenCharityescortedherchargetoaneighbouringfarmhouse，whichsuppliedtheBrowns，andwhere，byhismother’swish，MasterTomwenttodrinkwheybeforebreakfast。Tomhadnosortofobjectiontowhey，buthehadadecidedlikingforcurds，whichwereforbiddenasunwholesome；