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The Diary of a Goose Girl
by Kate Douglas Wiggin
THORNYCROFT FARM； near Barbury Green； July 1； 190…。
In alluding to myself as a Goose Girl； I am using only the most
modest of my titles； for I am also a poultry…maid； a tender of
Belgian hares and rabbits； and a shepherdess； but I particularly
fancy the role of Goose Girl； because it recalls the German fairy
tales of my early youth； when I always yearned； but never hoped； to
be precisely what I now am。
As I was jolting along these charming Sussex roads the other day； a
fat buff pony and a tippy cart being my manner of progression； I
chanced upon the village of Barbury Green。
One glance was enough for any woman； who； having eyes to see； could
see with them； but I made assurance doubly sure by driving about a
little； struggling to conceal my new…born passion from the stable…
boy who was my escort。 Then； it being high noon of a cloudless
day； I descended from the trap and said to the astonished yokel：
〃You may go back to the Hydropathic； I am spending a month or two
here。 Wait a momentI'll send a message； please！〃
I then scribbled a word or two to those having me in custody。
〃I am very tired of people；〃 the note ran； 〃and want to rest myself
by living a while with things。 Address me （if you must） at Barbury
Green post…office； or at all events send me a box of simple
clothing therenothing but shirts and skirts； please。 I cannot
forget that I am only twenty miles from Oxenbridge （though it might
be one hundred and twenty； which is the reason I adore it）； but I
rely upon you to keep an honourable distance yourselves； and not to
divulge my place of retreat to others； especially toyou know
whom！ Do not pursue me。 I will never be taken alive！〃
Having cut； thus； the cable that bound me to civilisation； and
having seen the buff pony and the dazed yokel disappear in a cloud
of dust； I looked about me with what Stevenson calls a 〃fine；
dizzy； muddle…headed joy；〃 the joy of a successful rebel or a
liberated serf。 Plenty of money in my pursethat was unromantic；
of course； but it simplified mattersand nine hours of daylight
remaining in which to find a lodging。
The village is one of the oldest； and I am sure it must be one of
the quaintest； in England。 It is too small to be printed on the
map （an honour that has spoiled more than one Arcadia）； so pray do
not look there； but just believe in it； and some day you may be
rewarded by driving into it by chance； as I did； and feel the same
Columbus thrill running； like an electric current； through your
veins。 I withhold specific geographical information in order that
you may not miss that Columbus thrill； which comes too seldom in a
world of railroads。
The Green is in the very centre of Barbury village； and all civic；
political； family； and social life converges there； just at the
public duck…ponda wee； sleepy lake with a slope of grass…covered
stones by which the ducks descend for their swim。
The houses are set about the Green like those in a toy village。
They are of old brick； with crumpled； up…and…down roofs of deep…
toned red； and tufts of stonecrop growing from the eaves。 Diamond…
paned windows； half open； admit the sweet summer air； and as for
the gardens in front； it would seem as if the inhabitants had
nothing to do but work in them； there is such a riotous profusion
of colour and bloom。 To add to the effect； there are always pots
of flowers hanging from the trees； blue flax and yellow myrtle； and
cages of Java sparrows and canaries singing joyously； as well they
may in such a paradise。
The shops are idyllic； too； as if Nature had seized even the man of
trade and made him subservient to her designs。 The general
draper's； where I fitted myself out for a day or two quite easily；
is set back in a tangle of poppies and sweet peas； Madonna lilies
and Canterbury bells。 The shop itself has a gay awning； and what
do you think the draper has suspended from it； just as a
picturesque suggestion to the passer…by？ Suggestion I call it；
because I should blush to use the word advertisement in describing
anything so dainty and decorative。 Well； then； garlands of shoes；
if you please！ Baby bootlets of bronze； tiny ankle…ties in yellow；
blue； and scarlet kid； glossy patent…leather pumps shining in the
sun； with festoons of slippers at the corners； flowery slippers in
imitation Berlin wool…work。 If you make this picture in your
mind's…eye； just add a window above the awning； and over the fringe
of marigolds in the window…box put the draper's wife dancing a
rosy…cheeked baby。 Alas！ my words are only black and white； I
fear； and this picture needs a palette drenched in primary colours。
Along the street； a short distance； is the old watchmaker's。 Set
in the hedge at the gate is a glass case with Multum in Parvo
painted on the woodwork。 Within； a little stand of trinkets
revolves slowly； as slowly； I imagine； as the current of business
in that quiet street。 The house stands a trifle back and is
covered thickly with ivy； while over the entrance…door of the shop
is a great round clock set in a green frame of clustering vine。
The hands pointed to one when I passed the watchmaker's garden with
its thicket of fragrant lavender and its murmuring bees； so I went
in to the sign of the 〃Strong i' the Arm〃 for some cold luncheon；
determining to patronise 〃The Running Footman〃 at the very next
opportunity。 Neither of these inns is starred by Baedeker； and
this fact adds the last touch of enchantment to the picture。
The landlady at the 〃Strong i' the Arm〃 stabbed me in the heart by
telling me that there were no apartments to let in the village； and
that she had no private sitting…room in the inn； but she speedily
healed the wound by saying that I might be accommodated at one of
the farm…houses in the vicinity。 Did I object to a farm…'ouse？
Then she could cheerfully recommend the Evan's farm； only 'alf a
mile away。 She 'ad understood from Miss Phoebe Evan； who sold her
poultry； that they would take one lady lodger if she didn't wish
much waiting upon。
In my present mood I was in search of the strenuous life； and eager
to wait； rather than to be waited upon； so I walked along the edge
of the Green； wishing that some mentally unbalanced householder
would take a sudden fancy to me and ask me to come in and lodge
awhile。 I suppose these families live under their roofs of peach…
blow tiles； in the midst of their blooming gardens； for a guinea a
week or thereabouts； yet if they 〃undertook〃 me （to use their own
phrase）； the bill for my humble meals and bed would be at least
double that。 I don't know that I blame them； one should have
proper compensation for admitting a world…stained lodger into such
an Eden。
When I was searching for rooms a week ago； I chanced upon a pretty
cottage where the woman had sometimes let apartments。 She showed
me the premises and asked me if I would mind taking my meals in her
own dining…room； where I could be served privately at certain
hours： and； since she had but the one sitting…room； would I allow
her to go on using it occasionally？ also； if I had no special
preference； wou