Sentence:  Phoebe, in support of a good old Sussex custom, regularly, on St. Thomas's Day, December 21st, went out "<WSD>Goodening</WSD>," visiting well-to-do parishioners, to gossip upon the past, over hot elderberry wine and plum cake, and to receive doles, either in money or materials, [...] 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To perambulate, usually town to town, collecting alms, gifts, or small gratuities before Christmas-time, usually on St. Thomas's Day.