68 NATURE AND WOODCRAFT. 



received in the North from the Metropolis ; but, 

 in ignorance of its use, it was smoked instead 

 of tobacco, made into herb puddings with barley, 

 and, as might well be supposed, was rather 

 long in becoming quite popular. As the use 

 and virtues of this foreign luxury became better 

 understood, neatly turned cups and saucers of 

 wood made their appearance, these being com- 

 monly used instead of porcelain. 



The consumption of wheat became greater and 

 more general after tea was introduced, though 

 at the beginning of the century flour made 

 from this grain was never seen in the cottage 

 of the labourer, and rarely made its appearance 

 on the tables of the middle-class except on days 

 of festivity. Frugal housewives evinced their 

 attachment to economy on these occasions by 

 making their pastry of barley-meal, which they 

 veneered with a thin cake of flour. A curious 

 custom survived until recently from out these 

 bygone things that shows the estimation in 

 which wheaten bread was held by our ancestors. 

 A small loaf was thought a fitting gift from 

 the dead to the living, and every person who 

 attended a funeral received one at the door 

 of the deceased, and was expected to carry 



