The record-union., 1897-07-11
THE PARSONS REVELS.

1.-THE social customs which fJrnierly
existed in each yillaga the sports and
pastimes associst. i With the village
green, the May-Day ;ss.ivalS s;i:d the
Christmas ca -9llings. we've of great val
ue, inasmuch as they ttnded to infuse
some poetical feeli;.g into the minds OF
the people, softened the rudeness of
rustic manners, and gave the villagers
simple pleasures which lightened thei4
labors. They prevented them from
growing hard grasping, and discontent-
ed with their lot They promoted good
feeling between the farmers and theit
laborers. The customs of the town
were poor exchange for the ancient
country manners and amusements; and
it was a sad day for our country when
the villagers lost their simplicity and
the power of appreciating the primitive
pleasures of rural England
Therei" cried the parson, as he
closed the book with a snap isn't it
what | am always telling you? We
want more amusement for our villagers
1t is amusement that prevents them
from growing discontented with their
lot; it is amusement that keeps them
is amusement that promotes good feel
ing. Why shouldn't we revive the Old
customs, or, at any rate, some of them
Can anyone find a good reason against
it?''
My dear it would be a great deal OF
trouble" said Mrs. Curtice anxiously
Her husbands brilliant ideas We're fire.
quently troublesome, and not a little
expensive.
TROUBLED" scoffed the parson when
nave you ever been known to shirk
anything on that score. Guess again.
Perhaps it would make i'll feeling in
the parish" suggested his daughter.
Elsie.
III feeling! Why, i'll feeling is the
very complaint it would most certainly
cure. Didn't you hear what I was
reading to you? 1t is a splendid no
ton of mine"-the parson was getting
excited, certain preliminary TO imme-
date action. upon my word, don t
see any difficulty
You wouldn't, dearest" murmured
his wife.
What's that? No difficulty at all.
What do you think, Clifton?"
Very picturesque answered the
painter, looking at Elsie. ''May-Day
reVels and general dissipation. Miss
Curtice must be Queen of the May. I
shall paint a picture of the scene, and
1t VIII make my name and fortune" He
looked again at Elsie, anad sighed. for
name and fortune were very long in
coming
IT'S only six weeks TO Nav Day"
said Mr.. Curtice. 1--WE will begin eau
tiously; we will have a May-Day festi-
val, and if it is successful. We'll have
others. Wen beat the bounds of the
parish on Ascension Day, have dancing
over the bonfires on Midsummer night,
establish a general Harvest Home,
TWelfth-N Night festivities, Hocktide re-
Vels-in fact, all the old English amuse-
ments which kept the people contented
with their lott
But who will pay?" sighed Mrs. Cur
tce.
Everybody will pay All will contri-
butte either in money or in kind. What
do you think, Clifton? Shall we do it?
Will you help to arrange a May-Day
revel?"
Il shall be charmed" said Harry Cliff
ton.
How delighted the boys will be,,
cried Elsie. I'VE shall have all the VIII
lagers''
To man-to a baby" murmured
Mrs. Curtice; they will all come. and
they will eat great deal-they always
do, And we shall have to provide for
them-We always do"
INV dear'' said tho parcor Gsoro+ ~,
with your knitting, and trust to me.
Harry, 1 am deligted with my idea :;
come to the study, and we'll work it
out together"
The boys came home from Oxford
ana from Winchester a fortnight or
more before the eventful day, and they
all threw themselves into the work as
ardently as even Mr.. Curtice could
wish. There were many things to be
done. The village young men had to
be taught the art of shooting with
bow and arrow, and the village maids
the steps of old dances, which thev
found 1t extremely difficult to ACQUIRE.
Everything was carried on in strict Sc
crecy. The shooting was taught in a
field belonging to the glebe, surround
ed by high wall; this was common
knowledge among the villagers. for ar
rows had been picked up in the ad-
joining pasture. The maids were
drilled in their maypole dance in the
same place. One insurmountable diff
Guilty presented itself; the village young
men absolutely refused to take dancing
lessons, and, in consequence, the Vicar
age boys, with Harry Clifton and a
couple of farmers sons, were con-
strained to fill their places, and to prac-
tlce solemnly morning, noon and night
under the tuition of an antiquary from
distant town, who had been discov-
cred to possess the necessary knowl-
edge of ancient saltatory lore
Il wouldn't mind if it wasn't for this
beastly dancing rot the youngest bow
would say with loathing.
But the village maids enjoyed the ex.
citement of such unaccustomed part
ners
The parson would come down to the
enclosed held, and hugely enjoy the
gyrations of the dancers.
He had had the Public Record Office
searched for old surveys of the parish.
and had discovered one which informed
him OF the sixteenth century name of
every field in it. To be sure MANY of
them could not now be identified, but
TINS was small matter to the enthusi-
astic parson. He determined that one
which bore the name of The Butts was
probably the revelling. ground of Eliza
bethan inhabitants, and should also be
the scene of his Victorian gayeties. 1t
adJoined the village green on which
the May-pole was to be erected. He
had some difficulty in securing permis-
sion for its use, for the farmer who
rented 1T had already laid it up for