Stray Leaves from a Border Garden 
distance, but, alas ! a smell of Autumn in the air. The 
Swallows are thinking wisely of leaving us. I saw a number 
yesterday sitting meditating on the telegraph-wires, probably 
deciding which route they were going to take to the sunny 
South. But perhaps the beauty of the day may induce 
them to put off their departure. I hope so ; I hate to see 
the Swallows go, to say 
41 Good-bye, Swallow, 
Away to the lands 
Where I cannot follow. * ’ 
Now is the time of “ Kirns ” or harvest-homes. From 
every field the stocks are disappearing, and you may see 
flights of small browny birds — called sometimes “Havoc- 
burds ’’—gleaning after the reapers. When the “ kirn,” or 
last handful of corn was cut- — an honour eagerly competed 
for — the kirn used to be cried, three cheers being given 
on the nearest knowe, and the fateful bundle of corn was 
tied up into a sort of figure, called by the various names 
of Kirn Dolly, Kirn Maiden, or Cornbabby. Then the 
“ bandster,” as the man was called who bound the 
sheaves, collected all the reaping-hooks, and proceeded to 
the mystic ceremony of throwing the hooks, surrounded by 
all the owners. He threw them skyward, and according to 
the direction in which the point falls there lies the quarter, 
north, east, or west, in which the owner of the hook would 
find work as a reaper in the next harvest to come. If any 
hook broke in falling, the owner would die before next year, 
and if one should fall with the point downward into the 
ground the owner would be married before the “ harst ” 
came round again. An extra penny used to be given here- 
abouts to reapers, called the “ Hook-penny.” The day 
generally finished up with a supper in the barn, and merry- 
making, with music and dancing, when “ Bab at the 
Bowster a curious old dance— was a favourite. It 
seems somewhat to resemble a figure of the foreign Cotillon, 
being a cushion laid in the middle of the floor and a lass 
seated by it. Then a number of lads come forward and 
232 
