Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1858 edition. Excerpt: ... some deity. Every notable well was dedicated to some particular saint, to whose merits any cures that might have been effected were always attributedand on the saint's day whose name the well bore, the people in former times assembled there to make offerings or vows to the same, which afterwards was changed into the custom of adorning the well with boughs and flowers, and entertaining themselves with music, dancing, eating cakes, and drinking ale. We deem this to be one of the customs "better kept in the breach than the observance," though distance, like a fairywand, adds a charm to these rural scenes, which frequently beguiles poetic fancy into utterances whose glowing beauties rivet the attention, warm the imagination, fill the soul with pleasing emotions, and extort the exclamation--"Old customs, oh! I love the sound, However simple they may be: Whate'er with time hath sanction found Is welcome, and is dear to me." THE RECTORS OF KEIGHLEY. It is to be regretted that so little is known of the former Rectors of this place; scarcely a vestige remains of any anterior to Mr. Gale, of whom we have been able to gather only a few scattered notices. Respecting our last Rector, we shall have more information to communicate, having gleaned some interesting reminiscences from his intimate friends who are yet alive to recount his good deeds. The following brief record of Mr. Gale, whose name is still respected by many of the parishioners, with a short account of his learned son, Judge Gale, may be new to many and not unworthy of their attention, his son being the second lawyer of station and eminence mentioned in the course of this work, which may be fairly claimed either as natives, or persons intimately connected with the parish. Miles Gale, M....
