" "Hold, hold thee there," said the
islander; "I said, King George; and here he comes, in his four-wheeled
calabash, and before he undertakes to give us any more new roads, I wish
he'd set about mending his own queer ways" However strong the current of
prejudice may run against Squire Ward in the island, among a few of the
less wealthy residents, it must be admitted, that he is hospitable even
to a proverb, a sincere and persevering friend, and a liberal master to
his tenantry: the Christmas festivities at Northwood, when the poor are
plentifully regaled with excellent cheer, smacks of a good old English
custom, that shall confer upon the donor lasting praise, and hand down
his name to posterity with better chance of grateful remembrance than
all his mine of wealth can purchase; there are some well authenticated
anecdotes in circulation of George Ward, which prove that he has, with
all his eccentricities,
"A tear for pity, and a hand, open as day, to melting charity."
To his enterprising spirit Cowes is indebted for much of its present
popularity, the facility of travelling to and from the island being
greatly aided by the steamboats (his property) from Portsmouth and
Southampton; but much yet remains to be done by the inhabitants
themselves, if they wish to secure their present high partronage, and
increase with succeeding seasons the number of their visitors.
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