370 OLD HOLIDAY AMUSEMENTS. 



corn ; the olive tree was to be beaten but once ; the 

 scattered grape in the vintage was not to be gathered ; 

 and in the field where the corn grew, " clean rid- 

 dance " was not to be made, the corners were to be 

 left unreaped, and even the forgotten sheaf was not 

 to be fetched away by the owner, but to be left for 

 the " poor and the stranger, the fatherless and the 

 widow."" This was not simply declared once, as an 

 act of mercy, but enjoined and confirmed by ordi- 

 nances thrice repeated, and impressed with particular 

 solemnity : <c I am the Lord thy God," I have 

 given thee all, and I command unreserved obedience 

 to this my appointment. 



Revolving in all our minds, as we old-mannered 

 people often do, the forms, rites, and usages of 

 earlier days, we occasionally regret that fashions 

 by gradual neglect have passed away, and can 

 never be revived, to give that feeling of pleasure 

 which a natural growth seemed to have inspired. 

 Some, though probably of pagan origin, were inno- 

 cent and harmless practices; the may-pole, with 

 all its flowery wreaths, so often surrounded by the 

 dance and the song, is now but seldom seen, where 

 we have known it, especially in the lacemaking 

 counties, the evening and almost sole recreation, 

 after long hours of unhealthy occupation, for happy 

 groups of 



Those pale maids who weave their threads with bone ; 



and it gave these poor villagers a transient glow of 

 health, seen then alone; but it is gone with the 

 rest, and we grieve to think how little remains that 



