A BARN. 83 



constant stream of pleasure seekers, heavily laden 

 four-in-liands, tandems, dog-carts, equestrians, and 

 open carriages, filled with well-dressed ladies. They 

 represent the abundant gold of trade and commerce. 

 In their careless luxury they do not notice how 

 should they? the smoky fire in the barren corner, 

 or the shock-headed children staring at the equipages 

 over the hatch at the barn. 



Within a mile there is a similar fire, which by day 

 is not noticeable, because the spot is under a hedge 

 two meadows back from the road. At night it shows 

 brightly, and even as late as eleven o'clock dusky 

 figures 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 moveable 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 



