Often, in the cowyard, I would say to the dumb creatures before me, "I shall milk you dry, and be kind to you as long as I stay; but I shall not always be here doing this kind of work.

Lanterns may be moving in the cowyards and stables; but elsewhere all is quietthe hedger and ditcher cannot see to strike his blow, the ploughs have ceased to move for some time, the labourer's workshopthe fieldis not lighted by gas as the rooms of cities.

The cowyards in many districts were formerly in a very dilapidated condition.