124 Old Bays on the Farm 



he could " touch" the fiddler, the caller-off, or 

 some friend for a *'chaw" of tobacco. As I've 

 stated, this incident is legendary — likely just pure 

 romance — or fiction, if you'd rather have it put 

 plainer. 



SINGING AND STEP-DANCING 



Occasionally, between the dances, while the fid- 

 dler would be resting his elbow, or getting liquid 

 refreshment in the form of sweet cider, there 

 would be exhibitions of step-dancing by the young 

 bucks of the neighbourhood, or a song by some 

 pretty, fair maid. They used to sing ''Annie 

 Laurie," *'Do They Miss Me at Home," ''The 

 Faded Coat of Blue," "Dublin Bay," "Old Folks 

 at Home" and other favourites of a bygone age, 

 and without any accompaniment. Organs and 

 pianos were scarce, indeed, in those days. 



FIEST OEGAN OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD 



Mention of organs sets me off in another direc- 

 tion. I remember when, as the Scotch folk call 

 it, a "kist o' whustles" came to my home. It was 

 the talk of the neighbourhood. Couldn't any of 

 our folks play on it at first, but land sakes, that 

 didn't stop them trying. Among us we got so we 

 could pick out "Blue Bells of Scotland," without 

 variations, except in the form of discords. I never 

 hear that tune but I'm carried back in memory to 

 that old farmhouse parlour and, in fancy, I see all 



