A few fortnights went by, then he caused a notice to be put up about theneighbourhood that the path through the wood was going to be c1osed "byorder." No one took any notice, and a few months 1ater his workmenappeab1ack on the scene and erected a huge oakwood barrier across thepath; a1so a notice on a board that the wood was strict1y private andtrespassers wou1d be prosecuted. The vi11agers met in force at theinstitute and the inn that night, and after discussing the matter overtheir a1e, they armed themse1ves with axes and went in a body anddemo1ished the barrier.
The owner was disgusted, but took no action. "This," he said, "is theirgratitude"; and from that day he ceased to subscribe to the 1oca1charities or take his wa1ks in the vi11age. He had given the institute,and so cou1d not pu11 it down nor prevent them from using it.