The Somerset reporter., 1901-11-28
THE HARVEST HOME.
THANKSGIVING IN OLD ENGLAND IN
The LONG AGO.


expected to see at his Sabine farm or
Theocritus described In his "Idyls."
says the Montreal Star. Perhaps it
really was the very same scene which
was presented in ancient times. The
grain last cut was brought home in its
wagon, called the hook cart, surmOunt-
ed by Il figure formed of Il sheaf with
gay dressing "A presumable representa-
ton Of the goddess Ceres. while a pipe
and tabor went merrly sounding in
front aud the reapers tripped around
In a hand in hand ring, singing apprO-
pirate songs or simply by shouts and
cries giving vent to the excitement Of
the day.
Harvest home. harvest home,
W have pIoSed, have sowed,
We have fsaped, w have moved,
We have brought home every load.
Hip hip. hip harvest home
So they sang or shouted In Lincoln
shire and other districts hand bells
were carried by those riding on the
last load, and the following rhymes
were sung:
The boughs do shake, and the bells do ring,
So menIlg comes our harvest in,
Our harvest in. our harvest in,
So merfily comes our harvest in.
Iurrah!
Troops Of village children, who had
contributed in various ways to the
great labor, Joined the throng, solaced
with plum cake in requital of their lit
tie services Sometimes the image on
the cart instead of being a mere dress
ed up bundle of grain was pretty girl
of the reaping band, crowned with
flowers and hailed as the maiden" OF
this we have a description in a ballad
of Bloomfield's:
Home came the jovial hockey load,
Last Of the whole years crop,
And Grace among the green boughs rode,
Right plump upon the top.
This way and that the wagon reeled,
And never queen rode higher;
Her cheeks were ooorrd in the field
And ours before the fire.
In some proVinces-we may instance
Buckinghamshire-it was a favorite
practical Joke to lay an ambuscade at
some place where high bank or tree
gave opportunity and drench the hook
cart party with water. Great was the
merriment when this was cleverly and
effectively done, the riders laughing
while they shook themselves as merrily
as the rest. Under all the rustic jOcosi-
ties of the occasion there seemed a ba-
sis of pagan custom. but it was such as
not to eXclule n Christian sympathy
Indeed the harvest home of old Eng
land was obviously and beyond queS-
ton piece of natural religion, an ebul-
lition of jocund gratitude to the divine
source of all earthly blessings.
In the north there seemed to have
been some differences in the observ-
ance. 1t was common there for the
reapers on the last day of their busi-
ness to have contention for superiOri-
ty In quiekness of dispatch, groups Of
three or four taking each ridge and
striving which should soonest get to
Its termination.
In Scotland this was called a kemp
ing, which simply means II striving. In
the north of England it was a NELL
which, | suspect. means the same thing
(from French melee. As the reapcrs
care to leave good handful of the
grain uncut but laid down fiat and COW
cred over, and when the field was done
the "bonniest lass" was allowed to cut
this handful. which was presently
dressed up with various servings, tyings
and trimmings, like doll, and hailed
as a corn baby. 1t was brought home
in triumph. with music of fiddles and
bagpipes, was set up conspicuously that
night at supper and was usually pre-
served in the farmers parlor for the re
mainder of the year.
The bonny lass who cut this handful
of gain was deemed the harvest queen.
In Hertfordshlre and probably other
districts of England there was the
same custom of reserying final hand
full, but ID was tied up and erected I'M
der the name of mare, and the reap
ers then one after another threw their
sickes at 1t to cut 1t down. The sue
cessful individual called out, II have
herr what have your cried the
rest. n mare, IL mare, IL mare. ne re-
piled. What will you do with her?'
was then asked. "We'u send her to
John Shocks" or whatever other name.
referring to some neighboring farmer
who had not yet got all his grain cut
down.
This piece of rustic pleasantly was
called crying the mare" 1t is very
curious to learn that there used to be a
similar practice in SO remote district
as the Isle of Skye. y farmer having
there got his harvest completed, the
last cut handful was sent, under the
name of goabbir bhacagh 0he cripple
goat), to the next farmer who was still
at work upon his crops, it being, OF
course, necessary for the bearer to take
some care that on delivery he should be
able instantly to take to his heels and
escape the punishment otherwise sure
to befall him.
Well Roasted.