Page:Early Reminiscences.djvu/190

the whetting of the mower's scythe. Often on a June morning when I was in bed, I could hear the swish of the scythe through the dewy grass, followed presently by the musical note produced by the whetstone and the blade, as the whetstone was drawn along the latter and made it vibrate. Now the lawn-mower with its mechanical rattle has usurped their place.

A happy, joyous time again was the hay-making. The village girls and lads turned out to toss the hay, and their voices rang in merry laughter, and in snatches of song. A favourite joke it was for a lad to "make sweet hay" with his favourite wench. This consisted in his twisting a rope of grass, suddenly flinging it over her shoulders, and drawing it to him with her head, till he could kiss her cheek. Of course there were struggles and exclamations and laughter. There was a pretty song sung to a rugged early melody concerning hay-making.

"The golden sun is shining bright,
   The dew is off the field:
 To us it is our main delight,
   The fork and rake to wield.
 The pipe and tabor both shall play,
   The viols loudly ring,
 From morn till eve each summer day,
   As we go hay-making.

 As we, my boys, hay-making go,
   All in the month of June.
 Both Tom and Bet, and Jess and Joe
   Their happy hearts in tune.
 O up come lusty Jack and Will,
   With pitchfork and with rake,
 And up come dainty Doll and Jill
   The sweet, sweet hay to make.

 O when the haysel all is done,
   Then in the arish grass,
 The lads will have their full of fun,
   Each dancing with his lass.
 The good old farmer and his wife
   Shall bring the best of cheer,
 I would it were, aye, odds my life!
   Hay-making all the year."