The Argosy — page 286: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A Dorsetshire Harvest Home. 269 posites were hung round the barn, and, when the hammering ceased, damask table-cloths were spread over the boards. On these were laid abundance of accessories, and by three o’clock all was ready. The harvest was housed, and those who had helped to sow and reap were welcomed tothe Home. The tired teams that had dragged the heavy waggons up and down the hills were resting ; the cows were afield ; the sheep were on the neighbouring hill-side ; the poultry were everywhere ; but all were idle for the rest of the day. Sunshine was on land and sea, and the scene was glorious. The fiddler was the first to arrive. He was a tall, lean man, and, to judge between him and the robust labourers, fiddling did not pay as well as field-work. Four-and-twenty of these came in slowly, some in undress smock-frocks, others in their best coats. It was ordained that the bread-winners should be best placed, first served, and indepen- dent of the worry of wives and children. They appreciated the arrangement, and filled one long table, while thirty or forty of their belongings surrounded the other board. In came the steaming tubs of vegetables ; in came huge pieces of roast and boiled beef, followed by abnormally big legs of pork, and meat pies of commensurate size. The mistresses took their seats at the top and bottom of the tables, and servants, longing to be guests, waited. Carving, eating and drink- ing began with a will, and young and old stowed away as much as they conveniently could, just reserving ‘“‘a corner for thot.” The “ thot ” were plum-puddings, that made one think of the ball of St. Paul’s. How hot, rich, and excellent they were! Children, in and out of arms, poked their fingers into the raisins, and their elders eat as much as they desired. ‘There was no stint of food that day, at least. The feasting lasted till nearly five o’clock, when the guests dispersed for awhile to let the barn be cleared. ‘The remnants of the banquet were sent here and there to absentees, or reserved for future dis- tribution amongst the hamlet; for, in this instance, charity neither began nor ended at home. While the women and children wandered about, or gossiped from cottage to cottage, the tinkle of the sheep-bells and the low of kine ‘sounded. The shepherd and his dog were bringing the flocks from the hills to their fold behind the villa, and a white mass moved over the sward ; while the cows came home leisurely to the milking, pausing to drink of the clear brook, then disappearing one by one into the farmyard. ‘The glow from the west fell on hill and hamlet, and peace stole in with it. | } But the fiddle struck up, accompanied by a vigorous tambourine, and life and sound succeeded to the temporary lull. The barn gradually refilled, and dancing soon began. Still there was a crowd GOMNGOOO (SO)