Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-08-03
THE HAY QUEEN.

BY AGNES ARGYLE,

cry one who has read English history
knows, the people enjoyed them F elves
comparatively, for. although in ssmasy ~e.
spects wicked woman, she exercised dis.
erection in ruling the people and tried to
promote their happiness. Among the
many curious customs practiced in those
days, was that OF celebrating "Mayday, u
on the green, where all the lads and lassies
would meet together and pass the day with
games and sports
Next to Christmas, this was the favorite
holiday. The boys liked it because they
had an opportunity of displaying their
archery, for robin Hood" with his band
added not a little to the amusement 10y
shooting at the target You must not think
I mean the real Robin Hood for he lived
in the days of King Richard the First, but
one of the boys would assume that charac.
ter, and the best archer would be rewarded
with wreath of flowers by the May queen.
And, of course, each girl was DESTROYS OF
being the chosen queen, SO you see ''May.
day" was great event to the children.
The other inhabitants too, would take
pleasure in Witnessing the sports, and rare
ly ever missed in passing Mayday in true
holiday style.
On the day about which l am going to
bSlI you. Qulb0 dH GACilSIII6ht ucsu D66U
created as two days before this Mayday,
''Robin Hood announced to the girls OF
tho village that ''the one who will do the
most good tomorrow, can be our May
queen" This was very singular announce.
ment, and one of the girls said to another
as they wendell their way homeward:
''For my part don t see what right Robin
Hood has to say that !"
"a I,
who takes more interest in our Mayday pro.
ceedngs than any other lad"
Eyes, is that true, said Rosa, but how
does be know whether any one else wants
as to choose our queen of May in the man
ner he announced"
''Why, / heard that all of the villagers
concluded that was the best way" re.
piled her companion, ''tor, it will give us
chance to do good, and that is better thar
to select the favorite girl for queen. A
girl that is pretty most always stands s
better chance of being selected than one
who is homely."
Rosa tossed her black curls and said with
considerable spirit:
'Well, 1 am sure / hope the plan will
succeed. suppose we will have to visit
the poor tomorrow, and distribute tracts
and the like. Robin Hood is silly boy
but will try and be sanity, so goodbye
till Mayday," and the two girls separated
The truth was, instead of being ''silIy'
as Miss Rosa called him, Robin Hood was
very sensible, and the majority thought SO
and accordingly each girl tried to do hel
best, in order to win the coveted post.
Mayday came, an it seemed as if the
sun never shone brighter, or the queer
ever looked lovelier. A throne had beer
erected with rustic boughs, and covered
with canopy of leaves and flowers, tht
crown being made of myrtle mixed will
white roses and lilies. Seats had also
been made for the spectators, for ever
some lords and ladies had deigned to wit
ness the sports
1t was pretty sight to see SO many little
lassies dressed in white, each bearing
large boquet of flowers, and secretly hop
ing that her deeds had been good enough
to deserve the honor of wearing the flora
crown: Robin Hood and his followers also
looked quite nicely in their scarlet uni.
forms, which they wore when shooting
and Robin, being principal, was kept very
busy in giving directions to his band.
Finally, all was in readiness to hear the
girls reports, as every person had come,
so Robin Hood stepped before the company
and, after bowling respectfully, made few
simple remarks, and finished by saying:
sRosa Featherstone may tell what gooC
she accomplished yesterday"
master Robin Hood, [ asked papa what
would be the best thing for me to do, anC
he said there was a poor family near the
village that needed fuel and food, SO l gave
them money had saved for new dress
and with that they bought some coal an,
other things"
For Rosa this was great act of self-de
NAL, and she certainly deserved credit, sc
Robin Hood smiled encouragingly and she
resumed her seat, while her black eyes
sparkled with satisfaction, for she was sure
none of the girls would sacrifice so mucl
as new dress tor the sake of doing good
However she was mistaken. You neve
could imagine how much good had beer
done in one day by some little girls. In
deed, Robin Hood wondered how the,
could ell who deserved the honor of beins
queen of Nav.
Finally all had given an account of thei
proceedings, with the exception of two
One was Efie Lawrence, and the othe,
Marie Avenel.
The former gave-a glowing account o
her good works. 1t seemed to impress the
others that Effie was the one who would
be queen And the impression was two
fold when Marie spoke, for her appearance
was timid and bashful, and when Robin
Hood asked her what she had done, instead
of speaking boldly, as Fife had done, she
tlembled and hesitated.
Marie, what did you do?" demanded
Robin Hood the second time.
Nothing, sir, worth Mentioning" an
swered the little girl, nearly crying will
timidity."
Robin Hood looked surprised, ant
frowncd slightly, but at last said, will
some impotence, Il am surprised anG
displeased, Yesterday, believe, was IN
derstood by US all to be the day in which
the girls were to try and win the honor o
being our May queen by doing good, anC
we would like to know how YOU spent tn,
day.
Before Marie could reply to this sever
remark an old woman called ''Blind Alice,
as she had been blind nearly her whole lif
time, arose and requested a friend t.
lead her near Robin Hood. The vlllager
were not surprised to see blind Alice a
their Mayday festival, for she loved to hea
the childrens' merry voices, and imagin
how beautiful the grass, trees and flower
looked, while she listened to the birds
sweet songs, and indeed the children al
ways wanted her there, for blind Alice wa
a good woman, and many beautiful flower
found their way to her hands, given b,