For the next six years - or rather - five years and a half - I was educated at Giggleswick Grammar School - near Settle in Craven!- Giggleswick and the surrounding country, is one of the loveliest parts of Craven, and here I grew fonder than ever of Nature in her various moods! Fond of games,- fonder of study, - fondest of Nature- I neglected no opportunity of visiting all the most beautiful scenes. I was (with two of my brothers) a weekly border, and we frequently came home by the moors - by a romantic land wild, and diversified - by waterfall, peak, and expanse of heather land!

I remember on one occasion climbing Penygent, and I delighted to see the Ribble foaming nut-brown along its rocky bed. It was whilst at Giggleswick that I was severely hurt near the temples by a Hockey Stick whilst playing the game. Nevertheless I remember carrying off the Prize at the end of the term, and I may say here that, when I left, in my 16th year, I was in the sixth Form, having for one of my form fellows, a nephew of Alan Howson!
I also remember, whilst at Giggleswick, seeing the celebrated 'Ebbing and Flowing Well' in full flow - a rare sight! I vas however, as studious of books as of Nature, and being delicate of constitution I had several Spring attacks, from which my marvellous vitality enabled me to recover myself.

The struggle during this period of life was between my natural Precosity and Sensitiveness, which latter made me shrink from all public appearances! To busy myself in Scott’s Novels, school studies, and Nature’s wooded haunts - these were my triple joys! But now I was to leave my dear, native Otterburn, and Giggleswick school, and all these haunts of home and rural beauty and be introduced to town life!

1871-
1875

Separation from Craven awoke the muse within me. I went to Wakefield Grammar School, and there I became the fast friend and form fellow of Charles Milner Atkinson, one of the brightest scholars of his day- indeed, unsurpassable in the locals and other examinations. This distinguished school-fellow ultimately became the 'Devil' - legal term? - to Sir. Frank Lockwood the eminent Q.C., and he is now the Leeds Stipenduary. Mr. Atkinson is a man of brilliant parts and I venture to say that it is only delicate health that has prevented him from becoming a Judge of the High Courts long ago. He has reputation also as an author.

1872

 

1875

Part 3