KIPLING'S SUSSEX - online book

An illustrated descriptive guide, to the places mentioned in
the writings of Rudyard Kipling.

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THE SEAL'S ISLAND
231
made friends with a pagan chief, Meon, in these parts, and introduces Eddius, the Kentish choir­master (and later, biographer) of Wilfrid, and also an old seal of high intelligence. Eddi abhorred Padda (the seal), but was converted to a great respect for it, after the animal had rescued Meon, Wilfrid and himself from the sea. Wilfrid tells quaintly in one part of the story how Eddi made a little cross in holy water on the wet muzzle of the seal, and was rewarded by the caresses of the faithful Padda—another little human touch that endears the old Kentish chaplain to us all.
Wilfrid taught Meon much, and in turn the Archbishop learnt from the pagan chief to face the world in a broad-shouldered, warm, and deep-hearted way.
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