HARVEST HOMES. 251 



throng, and these, with about twenty of the labourers, 

 old and young, formed with the family a company of 

 about forty persons ; my father took the head of the 

 table, myself the bottom end. A round of beef and a 

 haunch of mutton, with a goodly addition of plum- 

 pudding, formed the cheer, with plenty of good beer, 

 and, after grace had been said, pipes and tobacco were 

 placed on the table, and an address referring to the 

 harvest and the prospects of the coming year used to be 

 delivered with great propriety by my worthy father, who 

 was an excellent speaker. The song and joke went 

 round, and after about half an hour had been spent in 

 such convivial interchanges, the men now being well 

 warmed to their work, the following ceremony took 

 place : Three of the men sitting near each other slood 

 up, whilst one of the others, selected as a tolerably good 

 singer, struck up the following stanza — 



"Here's a health unto our master, the founder of the feast, 

 I hope to God with all my heart his soul in heaven may rest, 

 And all his works may prosper that e'er he takes in hand, 

 For we are all his servants, and all at his command — 

 So drink, boys, drink, and see you do not spill, 

 For if you do you shall drink two, for 'tis our master's will." 



Each of the three men standing up held a cup con- 

 taining half a pint of beer in his hand, and at the words 

 " Drink, boys, drink," they had to gulp down the nut- 

 brown beverage, the bystanders watching intently to 

 see if any drop was spilled, for then the double penalty 

 was surely inflicted. This performance always occasioned 

 great fun, and then toast, speech, and song went on till 

 near midnight, when most of the guests took their de- 



