150 DALE SHEEP-SHEARING. 



long settled here, far apart from borrowing 

 help, and having occasionally to exercise a 

 large hospitality, for instance, at the sheep- 

 shearing, when, I am told, there are more 

 than 100 persons collected, most of them 

 dalesmen unpaid, volunteers to help in the 

 clipping, with a few specially invited to witness 

 the work and partake of the festivities, all 

 of whom are to be fed and feasted, for such 

 is the old usage on the occasion. 



AMICUS. I should like to see our notable 

 active hostess at such a time, and to witness 

 the doings. 



PISCATOR. Do you remember the sheep- 

 shearing festivity as described by Shakspeare 

 in his "Winter's Tale." From what I have 

 heard, this, as conducted here, is very much 

 the counterpart of that, the day being given 

 to business, to work ; the evening to carousing, 

 singing, and dancing ; and sure I am that the 

 dame here is quite equal to her, the old farmer's 

 wife in the play, in her best days, as described 

 by him 



" when my old wife liv'd, upon 



This day, she was both pan tier, butler, cook ; 

 Both dame and servant : welcom'd all : serv'd all." 



