WAREHAM FAIR DAY 207 



11 Why," was the reply, " they did used to come on 

 Wareham fair day, but now they do come when 

 they be minded." It should be remarked that, since 

 that time the bird seems to have recovered his cha- 

 racter for conservatism and respect for local institu- 

 tions, in the mind of the inhabitants ; for though 

 Wareham fair, like other country fairs, notably the 

 much more famous Woodbury Hill fair, has been 

 shorn of much of its importance, if you ask any one 

 of them whether and when they have heard the 

 cuckoo, you are pretty sure to receive the stereo- 

 typed answer, " Yes, I heerd hun," or " No, I do 

 'low we shall heer hun on Wareham fair day." The 

 same clergyman was, one day, inquiring after the 

 health of a parishioner who had been ill. The answer 

 was that she was much better, but " did still feel all 

 of a nunnywutch." Concerned and perplexed by 

 so mysterious a phrase and disease, the rector had 

 recourse to his unerring authority, his walking and 

 working dictionary, " Old John." " John," he said, 

 "what is a nunnywutch?" "Well, zur," was the 

 reply, " nunnywutch be one of them there words 

 which us poor volks do use that hasn't got no 

 meanin'. When any one do feel all of a higgledy- 

 like, he do say he do feel all of a nunnywutch." 

 Obscurum per obscurius. I recommend the word 



