A BARN 73 



may be seen about it, as if the family slept in the open 

 air. A third fire is kept up in the same neighbourhood, 

 but in a different direction, in a meadow bordering 

 on a lonely lane. There is a thatched shed behind 

 the hedge, which is the sleeping-place the fire burns 

 some forty yards away .Still another shines at night 

 in an open arable field, where is a barn. 



One day I observed a farmer's courtyard completely 

 filled with groups of men, women, and children, who had 

 come travelling round to do the harvesting. They had 

 with them a small cart or van not of the kind which the 

 show folk use as movable dwellings, but for the purpose 

 of carrying their pots, pans, and the like. The greater 

 number carry their burdens on their backs, trudging 

 afoot. 



A gang of ten or twelve once gathered round me to 

 inquire the direction of some spot they desired to reach. 

 A powerful-looking woman, with reaping-hook in her hand 

 and cooking implements over her shoulder, was the 

 speaker. The rest did not appear to know a word of 

 English, and her pronunciation was so peculiar that it was 

 impossible to understand what she meant except by her 

 gestures. I suppose she wanted to find a farm, the name 

 of which I could not get at, and then perceiving she 

 was not understood her broad face flushed red and she 

 poured out a flood of Irish in her excitement. The others 

 chimed in, and the din redoubled. At last I caught the 

 name of a town and was thus able to point the way. 



About harvest time it is common to meet an Irish 

 labourer dressed in the national costume : a tall, upright 

 fellow with a long-tailed coat, breeches, and worsted 

 stockings. He walks as upright as if drilled, with a quick 

 easy gait and springy step, quite distinct from the Saxon 

 stump. When the corn is cut these bivouac fires go out, 



