The Harvest Home. 87 
Then drink boys drink, and see that you do not spill, 
For if you do, you shall drink too, with a hearty free good will. 
Chorus—Drink boys drink, &e. 
And now we’ve drunk our Master’s health our Missis shan’t go free, 
For I hope and trust her soul will rest in heaven as well as he: 
That all she’s works may prosper, that ever she takes in hand, 
For we are all she’s servants, and all at she’s command ; 
Then drink boys drink, and see that you do not spill, 
For if you do, you shall drink too, with a hearty free good will. 
‘Chorus—Then drink boys drink, &c.” 
I was once describing the first Harvest home supper at which I 
was present, to an old Wiltshire lady near ninety years ofage. She 
asked me if any one was “booted.” I asked what this was. She 
told me that if, during the harvest, a load was thrown down, the 
person through whose fault this happened was “booted” at the 
Harvest home supper; that is, after the cloth was removed, he is 
taken and laid on the table with his face downwards, when the head 
carter having procured one of the master’s boots, takes hold of it 
by the foot end, and gives the delinquent three blows with the top 
end of it, in a manner more calculated to injure his honour than his 
bones. 
This punishment is referred to in Dr. Graves’s novel, “ The 
Spiritual Quixote,’ where it is stated, that Jerry Tugwell, the 
attendant upon Mr. Wildgoose the hero of the story, having made 
himself drunk and ridiculous, is subjected, amongst other indig- 
nities, to the ancient discipline of the “boot.” (Book x. chap. 29.) 
Where a master gives no Harvest home supper, the chant is 
sung in derision by the workmen of those masters who give suppers, 
as follows :— 
‘** The bread’s not baked, 
The beer’s not brewed, 
The table’s not spread, 
Devil take all such, 
Harvest home.” 
Till very recently at the Harvest homes at Ogbourn St. Andrew, 
a very ancient anthem or hymn was sung. It appears to have 
