Weather and Folk Lore of Peterborough and District | Page 6

dried salt fish eaten before going to bed in silence and
walking backwards and getting into bed the same way, causes ones
future husband to appear in a dream with a glass of water in his hand if
a teetotaller, or a glass of beer if he is not one. Nothing must be drank
before breakfast.
An old woman said she had tried it over 40 years ago and her husband
brought her a glass of beer and he was not an abstainer but rather the
reverse.
SEPTEMBER.
Right glad to meet the evening's dewy veil
And see the light fade into
glooms around. Clare.
The Harvest Home Suppers are now almost a thing of the past. I went
to one about eight years ago and suppose it will be the last. It is held
when the last load of corn is taken home. This load used to be
decorated with boughs and flowers and the youngest boy employed
used to ride on it singing:--
Harvest Home! Harvest Home;
Two plum puddings are better than
one,
We've plowed, we've sowed,
We've reaped, we've mowed,

We've got our harvest home.
They also used to shout Largess! Largess! but seldom got anything
given them. It was merely an old custom.
In the evening the supper 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