Weather and Folk Lore of Peterborough and District | Page 6

was held, and after supper songs were sung. The oldest labourer used to propose the health of the Master and Mistress and all would sing:--
HARVEST HOME.
Here's a health unto our Master, the giver of the feast,?Not only to our Master, but to our Mistress;?We wish all things may prosper whate'er he take in hand,?For we are all his servants, and all at his command.?Drink, boys drink, and see you do not spill,?For if you do you shall drink two, it is our Master's will.
I've been to France, I've been to Dover,?I've been to Harvest Home all the world over, over, and over, Drink up your liquor and turn the bowl over.
Another:--
Here's health unto our Master the founder of the feast,?God bless his endeavours and give him increase,?And send him good crops that we may meet another year,?Here's our Master's good health boys come drink off your beer.
Some of the old songs used to be regularly sung. "The Poacher" was always a great favourite and the chorus, "For its my delight on a starry night" used to be given with great force and feeling. I wish I could remember the old songs which are now forgotten.
The day on which Harvest was finished, and the corn safely "Hovelled" used to be called "Wheat Hovel Day."
It was also the custom to decorate the last sheaf of corn with ribbons and flowers (It was only a small sheaf) and it was fastened to the wall inside the barn and left there until the next Harvest.
OCTOBER.
Hail, falling leaves! that patter round,?Admonishers and friends.
Come pensive Autumn, with thy clouds and storms,?And falling leaves and pastimes lost to flowers. Clare.
MOPS.
These were assemblies of people after Michaelmas in want of servants (male or female) who were not hired at the Statutes held before Michaelmas.
ST. MARTIN'S DAY.
The 11th November is generally called Martlemas Day and old people still watch for the direction of the wind at noon on this day as they believe it will continue in that quarter for the next three months.
It is also a saying that if the ice will bear a duck before Martlemas it will not bear a goose all winter.
NOVEMBER.
When Winter comes in earnest to fulfil?His yearly task at bleak November's close.
Sybil of months, and worshipper of winds?I love thee, rude and boisterous as thou art. Clare.
ST. CECILIA'S Day. NOV. 22.
The Lay Clerks of the Cathedral and friends used to be entertained by the Dean and Chapter at a dinner at which a boiled leg of mutton was the principal dish. After dinner songs and glees were sung.
ST. CATHERINE'S DAY, NOV. 25TH.
The female children belonging to the Workhouse were dressed in white, trimmed with coloured ribbons, and went in a procession headed by the Workhouse Master and the tallest girl who wore a crown of gilt paper and carried a sceptre and distaff. They stopped at the houses of the principal inhabitants and sang this song. Money was given them and they had rump steak and onions for dinner, and a tea party, and games in the evening:
Here comes Queen Katrin as fine as any Queen,?With a coach and six horses a coming to be seen,?And a spinning we will go, will go, will go,
And a spinning we will go.
Some say she is alive, and some say she is dead,?And now she does appear with a crown upon her head,
And a spinning we will go, etc.
Old Madam Marshall she takes up her pen?And then she sits and calls for all her royal men.
And a spinning we will go, etc.
All that want employment though spinning is but small,?Come list and don't stand still, but go and work for all.
And a spinning we will go, etc.
If we set a spinning we will either work or play,?But if we set a spinning we can earn a crown a day.
And a spinning we will go, etc.
And if there be some young men, as I suppose there's some, We'll hardly let them stand alone upon the cold, cold, stone.
And a spinning we will go.
Spinning was the employment for the females in the old Work house, and in the Dean and Chapter's accounts of payments there are entries of payments on St. Catherine's Day for wheels and reels for the children of the Workhouse.
DECEMBER.
ST. ANDREW'S DAY.
December 11th, commonly called "Tander," used to be kept by the Lace-makers as a feast day. St. Andrew was their Patron Saint. On that day men and women used to go about dressed in each other's clothes, and calling at various houses and drinking hot elder wine. On this day the Morris Dancers or Mummers began their visits. There were from four to eight people who took part in the Mummery. The King, Beelzebub, Doctor, Doctor's man and Jack, the fool. Sometimes one took the part of the Doctor's horse and the Doctor made