Kingswear in Devon which sits on the opposite bank of the River Dart from Dartmouth was shrouded in a thick fog for some hours yesterday
The fog did not reach Dartmouth or move upstream and was described as very unusual by the people of the village
From a report in The Times
Phyllis at the Fair made her way downhill towards the Lower Ferry she was carrying produce for the market in Dartmouth and was walking slowly and taking care as the fog was so thick that she could only see the road for a short distance in front of her
She knew that the fog would most probably lift as quickly as it had appeared and was confident that her return journey would be much easier
In the distance she could hear the fog horns being sounded at sea and this comforted her
As she made her way past the railway station the fog became thinner and at river level the view was quite clear
Off to market young Phyllis?
The captain of the ferry stepped from his ship
He put his hand into Phyllis’s basket and helped himself to an apple
It be a cooker Aheb it will do your guts no good
It will take more than a cooker to ail me
If you take any more then I will have none to sell
You always get free passage
I know both ways
Since you were a young girl
You are a good man Aheb and as cheeky as your son
The ferry began its journey towards Dartmouth and it gave Phyllis at the Fair an opportunity to study the extent of the fog
She could see that it extended from the far boatyards to the castle and had covered the whole of Kingswear .
Only the river area remained clear
The journey passed quickly and soon Phyllis at the Fair was in Dartmouth
Tommy Tiles from the grocers shop came up to her as she walked towards the market
A man has been asking after you
Did he have a Scottish Accent?
Yes is he your sweetheart?
Mind your manners Tommy Tiles he be my Scottish uncle
A fine looking fellow
And he knows it he has had a string of loves
Why is he in these parts?
Visiting he has come to see me dad they have not seen each other for many a year
Is that why you are wearing your best shawl?
Be off with you Tommy I wears this all the time
And a hint of rouge
If you carry on I will push you in the river
Tommy Tiles tapped Phyllis at the Fair lightly on her shoulder and smiled
I will see you tomorrow
Not if I see you first Tommy Tiles
The young man crossed the road and entered his father’s grocery shop and Phyllis at the Fair continued her short journey towards the market
She had a profitable morning and sold everything in her basket and spent the final hour of her stay chatting to the other stallholders
Again she was told that a posh gentleman had been asking after her
He be my uncle and has taken lodgings in the town
He was told to meet me here when the clock strikes one and market is finished
The clock struck one and the remaining stallholders began to clear their goods from the wooden trestle tables
As they did so a well-dressed man in a fashionable coat walked towards the stall of Mrs Rafe the jeweller’s widow
He purchased a brooch and walked towards Phyllis at the Fair
For a fair lassie
He handed the girl the brooch and she immediately attached it to her shawl
It has been such a long time Uncle Robert
She kissed her uncle on the cheek and over his shoulder smiled at the other stallholders who were watching her every move
He uncle took her hand and suggested that they leave the market place
Give me one minute uncle as I need to get me basket I have sold everything today
Soon Phyllis at the Fair and her uncle were walking hand in hand towards the ferry which was on the point of docking
Captain Aheb waved from the deck and Phyllis waved back
Is there a toll for the crossing?
No it is always free me and Aheb have an understanding
It was as she was crossing the river that Phyllis at the Fair suddenly realised that she had completely forgotten about the fog
She looked at Kingswear
It was no longer shrouded in fog
As the ferry prepared to dock Phyllis saw her mother and father and two brothers walking towards the hotel arch
They be pleased to see you Uncle Robert father especially
The ferry docked and Phyllis at the Fair and her uncle walked up the walkway towards her family
Her father walked forward and hugged his brother followed by her mother and two brothers
There was much greeting and soon the small group moved away from Phyllis who remained still under the hotel arch
She looked into her basket which was again full of fruit and turned towards the ferry and started walking down the slight slope
Off to market young Phyllis
The captain of the ferry stepped off of the boat
He put his hand in Phyllis’s basket and helped himself to an apple
It be a cooker Aheb it will do your guts no good
It will take more than a cooker to ail me
If you take any more then I will have none to sell
You always get free passage
I know both ways
Since you were a young girl
You are a good man Aheb and as cheeky as your son