Born 24th of March, 1806, and rested from his labours on September the 19th, 1876." Seating myself on the low wall that surrounded the churchyard, I looked down upon the river, and while so doing, reflected upon Erasmus Gunning.

What had he been like, this knight of the ferrule, who for twenty-seven years acted as pedagogue to this tiny hamlet?
What good had he done in his world?
Had he realized his life's ambition?
Into many of the congregation now worshipping yonder he must have driven the three R's, possibly with the assistance of the faithful ferrule aforesaid, yet how many of them gave a thought to his memory! In this case the assertion that he "rested from his labours" was a trifle ambiguous.

Consigning poor Erasmus to oblivion, I continued my walk.

Presently my eyes caught an inscription that made me halt again.

It was dedicated to the "Loving Memory of William Kitwater, and Susan, his wife." I was still looking at it, when I heard a step on the gravel-path behind me, and turning round, I found myself standing face to face with Miss Kitwater.