The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-30
MISCELLANY.
HARVEST HOME In ENGLAND.
BY WILLIAM H. RIDEING.

house that had sheltered Mary Queen
of Scots in one of her journeys from the
country Of her prosecutors, northward.
An hours examination of the obscured
paintings, the heavy tapestry, and the
oak in the wainscotting worked my feel
ing to properly meditative point, and
some Of their pathetic gloom settled in
dusky finger marks upon me. l needed
consolation almost as badly as did the
poor queen in her most troubled mo-
ments, and untitled to enjoy myself for
the rest of that balmy, fragrant day In
the midst of the despair brought about
by keen sympathy with old and sor-
rowful associations, however, a stray
thought fortunately reminded me of a
| letter of introduction / had to a gentle
man farmerI resident in an adjoin-
ing village, and to his house started
A cordial welcome soon banished my
loneliness, and willingly and thankful
ly accepted an invitation to stay to tea,
although cold roast beef and home
brewed ale we're at once placed before
me in portions to satiate giant. An
extra inducement, which / did not need,
was offered in the fact that L should see
the festival of Harvast Home in the
evening.
My qualification was the greater mas
much as an invitation to tea is one of
the most delicate compliments middle
class Englishman can pay to stranger
1t implies not merely the courtesy and
cordiality of passing acquaintance-a
dinner would suffice for that-but also
the hosts confidence in the person upon
whom it is bestowed. For tea is essen
TALLY the family meal of all England,
and its hour is chosen for those family
councils that give the national character
the best strength. 1t comes just as the
heat and turmoil of the day are subsi-
ding, between four and five o'clock--the
sweet hour that was called in Eden,
"the calm and cool" A gentle mood
prevails; all strife is hushed, and even
think a mute worship can be perceived
in some aspects of the delightful gather
ing. A better spirit is surely manifested
than on other occasions, and such vir-
tues as forbearance and charity al read
lily inspired. Simple home concerns
are discussed; and he who is invited to
share the plain food and plain talk
may be satisfied that he has won not
only the esteem but also the fullest con-
fidence of his entertainer.
The girls and mother of the family
were working like servants for their SER
wants, but none were absent from the
round table as the reaper pictured on the
old Dutch clock swept its scythe foul
times across the face. The food was the
simplest yet of the most exquisite quail
ity; the aroma of the tea was solace dis
titled; the bread white in the heart and
crusted with smooth brown; the butter
in prettily shaped pats, pure in color and
flavor as clover, and the preserved fruits
transparent and delicate in hue as jel-
lies The ornamentation was also of the
quietest kind; the designs on the China
alone were gorgeous. Even the bread
trays weae finely carved out of oak; min
ature sheaves of wheat interviewing
themselves with the bold letters of q
pious Latin inscription. Thrifty arr
had touched the common objects. Oh
how peaceful and beautiful seemed thai
English home! There was no haste OF
loud words, and when we arouse the
shouts of throng of rustics on the op-
posite green reminded US of the enter
tainment of the evening.
Harvest home was then passing from
the ancient form of observance to the
modern. The more beautiful of the Gus.
toms which had long made the land:
"merrie" still clung to the ground, while
the severe exercises of the new age had
obtained hold. I do not like the in
novations. Old Harvest Home brec
good feeling and fellowship between
master and man; it was made fast pro
vided by one for other, and an acknowl
edgement of honest toll we'll done. The
new Harvest Home is of more genera
and devotional character, and so consti
tuted that all interested in the ingather
ing of the fruits of the earth may tax,
part. Each parish has an annual har
vest festival, to which the farmers ar,
expected to contribute offerings of fruit
or flowers; and those who have neithe
to give must assist to carry or arrang'
the gifts under the direction of clergy
man. In some parishes the festival be
gins in churches and ends there, but il
others it is followed by tea-meeting 0
other social gathering. The celebration
of which I write had both the harves
, supper and religious services, recallin
the day described by the old poet II er
rick:
"The horses, mares, and frisking hllies,
Clad all in linen white as lilies;
f The harvest swains and wenches bound
t For JOY to see the hook cart crowned.
About the cart hear hew the rout
OF rural younglings raises the shout.
Pressing bofore, some coming after,
b Those with a shout, these with laughter.
l. Some blesse the cart, some kisse the sheave
Some prank them up with oaken leave
Some cross the fll-horse, some with great
Devotion stroke the home-born wheat"
IS As my friend and sauntered down
= lane canopied with trees from each side
n we met the harvesters coming from tn
n field to the barn with their last load
% Four splendid gray horses were in I'll
70 traces, decked with ribbons, flowers an
10 leaves, and on one of the leaders rode
- healthy, robust, handsome girl person;
ID ting Ceres, and queen of the harvest
nt High on the top of the yellow load WI
is scrambling crowd of boys and girl
4. all adorned by fruits and flowers, al
4 following came the laborers, men an
n young women, capering, laughing, sin
a ing, and courting. When they had stor'
" the grain in the barn they came grave
Re on to to the manor-house, and arrayil
q. themselves before the door, burst out
40 hearty cheers, afterwards singing:
4 y L