208 A Walk from 



people of the place were served with tea and coffee 

 under the tent. 



Then came "The Children's Hour." They were 

 called in from their games and romping on the lawn, 

 and formed into a circle of about 50 feet diameter. 

 And here and now commenced an entertainment which 

 would make a more interesting picture than the old 

 Apsley House Dinner. The good deacon of the 

 county, with several assistants, entered this charmed 

 circle of boys and girls, all with eyes dilated and eager 

 with expectation, and overlooked by a circular wall of 

 elder people radiant with the spirit of the moment. 

 The host, in his white hat and grey beard, led the way 

 with a basket on his arm filled with little cakes, called 

 with us ginger-nuts. He was followed by a file of 

 other men with baskets of nuts, apples, &c. It was 

 a most hilarious scene, exhiliarating to all the senses 

 to look upon, either for young or old. He walked 

 around the ring with a grand, Cromwellean step, sow- 

 ing a pattering rain of the little cakes on the clean- 

 shaven lawn, as a farmer would sow wheat in his field, 

 broadcast, in liberal handfuls. Then followed in their 

 order the nut-sowers, apple-sowers, and the sowers of 

 other goodies. When the baskets were emptied, the 

 circular ppace enclosed was well covered with as tempt- 

 ing a spread of dainties as ever fascinated the eyes of a 



