iv BEGINNINGS OF AGKICULTUEE 49 



fields of waving corn will grow. We have learnt 

 much, not nearly all, but much as to how the seed 

 grows, but for them it was the great mystery. 

 They brought their sheaves home with gladness, 

 but it was a fearful gladness, for they were never- 

 sure that the miracle would repeat itself in a new 

 spring. They were not even sure that the mid-day 

 sun, sinking day by day in the sky, would rise again 

 to his midsummer strength, and, therefore, with their 

 harvest joy was mingled some fear and some sad- 

 ness. They were afraid that the gods would be 

 jealous of too much gladness, and with their songs 

 and music and dancing they mingled some dreadful 

 rites. They offered terrible sacrifices to the god 

 of corn and wine, lest too much joy should rouse 

 his wrath, lest he should refuse to send a new 

 harvest with the coming year. What seem to us 

 the rather foolish ceremonies of harvest-home are 

 just the last remains of those dreadful sacrifices 

 the last remnant of an age-long tradition. 



E 



