work all day in the harvest field, for farmer Winter had a splendid crop, the stacking of which would be soon completed, and his duties called on him to rise by daylight, while the children proposed accompanying him on a gleaning expedition before they went to school. They were just about to enter the cottage, when the latch of the garden wicket was raised, and the friendly voice of Radstock the elder was heard in terms of greeting. "Well, Michael, 'tis glorious harvest weather, we mon be up by times the morning, Mr. Winter says the ten-acre field must be all down to-morrow as he intends to give the harvest home on Friday next; and all on us, young and old be to be there, so I thought I would just call in to tell the children, for I know their young hearts will gladden at the news." "Thanks George, thanks, come in man, ye be always welcome, and we can spare a mug of beer for the like of you, old friend, though it's not to be said it's strong beer, yet my missis did brew it, God bless her; so run Mary, run child, and give George a welcome cup." "No, Michael, no child, no beer to-night, thanks to you kindly for all that, but it's over late, and we must be up with the sun, so good night, and God be with you all; come give me one buss, my little puss, you'll be queen of the harvest home if you meet with your deserts, my little beauty; and by-the-by, the ould squire, and the young squire Frederick, and Miss Augusta are all to be there, and the young ladies-for such they be called now, up at Ashton farm, since they've been to that boarding school-have hands at work to decorate the barn for a dance, better, they made the plum puddings. "Aye, Michael, well, Sally says they baent over fond of using their hands at any work, though pudding making be light labour I count, nevertheless, my little puss here be more like a lady any day than they." "Why, George, what's the matter, I seldom ever heard the man speak in ill terms of living soul before that I knew of, what have maisters daughters said to thee, to offend, aye, George." "Why, nothing man truly, nothing, but in old Winter's time Ashton Farm was Ashton Farm, and nothing more, and when you and Mark were wont to tend the maister then, he spoke friendly and frank, as one of we. 'Wilt have a mug of ale man, or a crust of bread and cheese, George,' and the like of that, and young maister to say the truth be still much loike his old father, but the young misses, I cannot understand them much, it is 'Mr. Radstock this and Mr. Radstock that to such as me, and if I goes up to the farm as I did this afternoon being sent there by maister, with a message, on my way home, I seed no inside of a kitchen but a parlour, furnished a bit like the ; steward's room, up at the hall, and there sets Miss Susan, a gingling the piany, and Miss Gelica lay straight out on a sofa, a reading, well then I sends in my message, out comes Sal, to say that I be to go to the to the young ladies so as I goes in, says Miss Susan' Good evening, Mr. Radstock, will you please to take anything after your hot day's work,' and Miss Gelica adds-When did Mr. Winter say he should be home.' as if brother was not polite, As for my boy, they have well nigh turned the lad's head already with schooling, I means George; but good night neighbour, good night poppet-good night Mich." And our honest labourer went home to his larger, but still happy family; while Coddington and his household were soon sound in a sleep, such as the wealth of Europe could. not purchase, or the genius of man command. CHAPTER VII. In harvest home, harvest folks, servants and all, IN days long, long, ago, a harvest home was a flow of happiness, merriment, and content, if not a feast of reason. In more recent times, it was a source of annual pleasure looked forward to by old and young, master and man ; on the part of the one as having secured his fortune for the year, on the other that the labour of weeks being over, they were now at com |