The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-05-05

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part. All this in volubility OF words
only part Of which were understood
she propoundcd to Mrs. Barlow, who
forthwith carried the unpleasant tidings
to the jovial ycomnn, who resented tho
insinuation with the vigor of his sturdy
race. He had been altogether averse
to having French woman in the house,
and had only yielded out of regard for
Miss Balderstonc, firmly believing that
his ponds weEld ee dcp!stca Of frogs
and That strange, unholy dishes would
/ find their way into his larder.
"What" he said, striking his table
with his huge fist, so that the glasses
jingled an accompaniment to his wrath.
"Are we to be taught manners by o
frog-cnting French woman9 Says Miss
Balderstone wouldn't approvc-why.
Miss Baldcrs.onc has danced O reel on
this very floor at a harvest-bomc with
my head wngoncr and didn't think she
demcaned herscn. 1 tell 'ee III see her
mysen, and If can't knock some sense
into her silly hcnd, my names not John
Barlow. The lass shall como to tho
homing If she has mind to, and there's
an end ont"
Whcrcupon there was q battle royal
fought under French and English coll
ors, in which half the shots missed fire,
for Mndcmoiscllc could not understand
moicty of the farmers broad Surrey
dialect, and the lady's kecnest bits of
satire were lost upon him. The end Of
it was that u compromise wns effected
Miss Grahame wcs to be allowed to
participate in the games after supper
and take part in round dance or two,
with no other partner than the worthy
yoeman himself or the village school,
master who was expected as guest.
II these conditions were observed,
mademoiselle under protest withdrew
her objections. So harmony was re-
stored and John Barlow, hopping his
face with his handkerchief returned to
the kitchen with flying colors to an
nouncc to his women-foll1 his partial
victory.
Old customs are dying out even in
England. but under John Barlow's hos.
pitablc roof, they maintained thair.pris-
tine glory, as unabridged as when his
ancestor had burned the Yule log on
i his broad hearth. for the carousal Of q
registering troopof cavaliers in the days
OF King Charles.
| Long tables were set in the great
kitchen, preparatory to the coming
feast but the first ceremony was the
homing-propor, the bringing of the last
load of swoct-emclfing hay from the
field, IN the cleaning, Just before the
dew began to fall upon the grass.
The last forl1ful was pitched upon the
mighty load, the ropes were tied from
wraithe to vrnithc to keep it in place,
hoistcd up to'the top of it, the former
exhibiting considerable coyness in the
process, and the heavy horses, with
harness declscd with ribbons, started at
stately pace, John Barlow leading
the procession on his fat cob, and the
hnymalscrs bringing up the rear and
rncrrily trolling song With the re-
| frain:
Harvest hoEci
Work is done,
| ~ Jolly companions. cverycne!"
How Arthur Dunbar entered into the
spirit Of the rcvcl! Just an hour was
| given to the farm hands to ''fettlc''
themselves, ard the great bell on the
ivy-clad stone gable of the house
rang ont the welcome tidings that
supper wcs ready. Then into the old
kitchen troopcd the host of merry
makers, every laborcr about the place
with his wife and children or sweet
heart, besides score of farn-scrvants
from the ncighboring homeste;sds. In
good old style the gc-.ie waited upon
the simple, the schoolmostar and the
schoolmaster's wife, the apothecary
and his two handsome daughters, tie
village drcssrakcr and her three
pretty apprentices, and Dame Barlow
and her Nellie merrily We'd with each
other in loading the plates with good
| things; the only persons Of higher