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Then he held up a han' like the spout of a teapot, 

 And danc'd Cross the Buckle and Leather to Patch, 



When they cried " Bonny Bell," he lap up to the ceiling. 

 An' aye crack 'd his thouras for a bit of a fratch. 



Mr. Budworth records an incident which occurred at the dance 

 he attended at Buttermere, which is characteristic of the untram- 

 melled way in which the dalesfolk formerly took their enjoyment. 

 "A stout man, more than six feet, belonging to Lorton, entered, 

 and most piteously regretted he had not known of the dance, as 

 his iron bound clogs were too heavy to dance in. Mine being by 

 this time dry, I offered to lend them for the night, but he had the 

 disappointment to find them too short, or he said, ' They wad hae 

 duin varra weel,' though, by the bye, they weighed two pounds 

 seven ounces. However, he soon was amongst the dancers, and 

 footed it away in his stocking feet ; and after they were worn out, 

 bare-footed." 



The most important gathering during the year in Keswick was 

 formerly the first Saturday in the New Year, known then as now, 

 as "Auld folks' Saturday." This was a day on which business and 

 pleasure were supposed to be combined. The tradesmen of the 

 town during the first part of the day presented and settled their 

 outstanding accounts for the previous year as far as they were able, 

 and the farmers and their wives, dressed in "their Sunday best" 

 met and dined at the inn they made their head quarters during the 

 year, in order to give the landlord of the establishment a benefit. 

 There was always a sumptuous dinner provided for the occasion, 

 and many of the tradesfolk of the town dined at the different inns 

 which they patronised along with the farmers, and this was called 

 "spending the shot." Music was played while the dinner was 

 served, and after the tables were cleared, the guests assembled in 

 the large room, and then commenced the patter of feet among the 

 dancers to keep time to the jig tunes and other enlivening strains 

 evoked by a manipulation of horse hair and catgut. The first 

 Saturday in the New Year is still known in Keswick as "Auld 

 Folks' Saturday," but it now exists only in name. A few of the 

 "old stagers" who remember the former glory of this festival still 



