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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY.
dows and doors were carefully barricaded, and the house was allowed to go to ruin; so likewise was the garden. A tree which fell across the walk was not cleared away except to allow a passage to the house. I visited the hermit some years ago, going up to the window of what had been the kitchen. Glass and casement had long disappeared;
Portrait of a Hermit
the strong upright iron bars alone remained. Here the possessor of ample means, a man of at least fair education, lived day and night. He appeared to emerge from a bed of ashes.[1] He had not slept in a bed for many years. He came forward, and entered, rather reluc-
- ↑ I observed that, when his room was entered after death, the floor was found to be covered two or more feet with cinders that had accumulated. A farmer informs me that he has since removed fourteen cart-loads of cinders from the house and around it.
