The Young Colonists

CHAPTER ONE.

A SNOW-DRIFT.

The country round Castleton, in Derbyshire, is greatly admired by summer
tourists, for it lies in the wildest part of that county; but in winter
the wind whistles sharply over the bleak hills--where there are no trees
to break its violence,--the sheep huddle under the shelter of the
roughly-built stone walls, and even lovers of the picturesque would at
that season prefer a more level and wooded country. The farm of Mr
Humphreys was situated about a mile from Castleton. It consisted of 100
acres or so of good land in the bottom, and of five or six times as much
upland grazing on the hills. Mr Humphreys owned as well as farmed his
land, and so might have claimed, had he chosen, the title of
gentleman-farmer; but he himself would have scoffed at such an idea. He
was a hard-working, practical farmer, about over his ground from morning
to night, save when the hounds met within easy distance in winter; then
he would mount "Robin," who served alike as hunter, or hack, or to drive
in the neat dog-cart to Buxton market; and, although there were many
handsomer horses in the field, Mr Humphreys was seldom far off when the
fox was killed.

His family consisted of his wife and two sons, the eldest, Richard, was
about fourteen years old. His brother, John, was three years younger.
Both went to school at Castleton.