56 NATURE AND WOODCRAFT. 



hand-loom Weavers wove cloth of duffel grey 

 for the men, and russet for the women. Finer 

 wool for finer work was carefully combed 

 within the settle-nook ; but almost all for do- 

 mestic use. The Wool-comber was a great man 

 in those days, and the itinerant who tramped the 

 country and turned wooden dishes and such like 

 articles was always welcome. It was from ob- 

 servation of such men as these that Wordsworth 

 drew the character of his immortal " Wanderer." 

 The produce of a field of flax now yielded 

 material for holiday attire, and was in great 

 request among women. The travelling tailor 

 went from house to house in search of employ- 

 ment, and in the larger of them was some- 

 times detained for weeks. He worked for daily 

 wages, and amply paid for his meat and drink 

 by the news he brought. In those days news 

 was news — it could not be had for a half- 

 penny. 



Although home produce was large, money 

 was scarce, and the earnings of servants were 

 paid " in kind." The girls received shifts and 

 gowns and aprons ; the men, shirts and coats, 

 with sometimes a little wool and corn. 



In money, the annual wages of a man-servant 



