CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. ALDINGTON VILLAGE—THE MANOR HOUSE—THE FARM………. 1
II. THE FARM BAILIFF……………………………….. 11
III. THE HOP FOREMAN AND THE HOP DRIER………………… 23
IV. THE HEAD CARTER—THE CARPENTER…………………… 35
V. AN OLD-FASHIONED SHEPHERD—OLD THICKER—A GARDENER—MY SECOND HEAD CARTER—A LABOURER……… 46
VI. CHARACTERISTICS OF AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS AND VILLAGERS……………………………………. 57
VII. MACHINERY—VILLAGE POLITICS—ASPARAGUS……………. 80
VIII. MY THREE VICARS—CHURCH RESTORATION—CHURCHWARDEN EXPERIENCES—CLERICAL AND OTHER STORIES…………. 89
IX. THE SCHOOL BOARD—RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION—SCHOOL INSPECTORS—DEAN FARHAR—COMPULSORY EDUCATION……. 106
X. VILLAGE INSTITUTIONS: CRICKET—FOOTBALL—FLOWER-SHOW —BAND—POSTMAN—CONCERTS……………………… 119
XI. DEALERS—LUCK MONEY—FAIRS—SALES—EFFECT OF CLIMATE ON CATTLE AND SHEEP—AGRICULTURAL SHOWS….. 126
XII. FARM SPECIALISTS……………………………….. 141
XIII. THE DAIRY—CATTLE—SHEEP—LAMBS—PIGS—POULTRY…….. 153
XIV. ORCHARDS—APPLES—CIDER—PERRY…………………… 167
XV. PLUMS—CHERRIES………………………………… 182
XVI. TREES: ELM—OAK—BEECH—WILLOW—SCOTS-FIR…………. 187
XVII. CORN—WHEAT—RIDGE AND FURROW—BARLEY—FARMERS NEWSTYLE AND OLDSTYLE…………………………. 207
XVIII. HOPS—INSECT ATTACKS—HOP FAIRS………………….. 220
XIX. METEOROLOGY—ETON AND HARROW AT LORD'S—"RUS IN URBE"……………………………………….. 230
XX. CHANGING COURSE OF STREAMS—DEWPONDS—A WET HARVEST—WEATHER PHENOMENA—WILL-O'-THE- WISP—VARIOUS………………………………… 239
XXI. BIRDS: PEACOCKS—A WHITE PHEASANT—ROOKS' ARITHMETIC.. 253
XXII. PETS: SUSIE—COCKY—TRUMP—CHIPS—WENDY—TAFFY…….. 264
XXIII. BUTTERFLIES—MOTHS—WASPS……………………….. 271
XXIV. CYCLING—PAGEANTS OF THE ROADS—ROADSIDE CREATURES—HARMONIOUS BUILDING—COLLECTING OLD FURNITURE AND CHINA…………………………… 278
XXV. DIALECT—LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY IN SHAKESPEARE—NAMES —STUPID PLACES………………………………. 288
XXVI. Is ALDINGTON THE ROMAN ANTONA?…………………… 294
INDEX………………………………………………. 306
"Ah, what a life were this! how sweet! how lovely!
Gives not the hawthorn-bush a sweeter shade
To shepherds looking on their silly sheep,
Than doth a rich embroider'd canopy
To kings that fear their subjects' treachery!"
3 King Henry VI.
"When I paused to lean on my hoe, these sounds and sights
I heard and saw anywhere in the row, a part of the inexhaustible
entertainment which the country offers."
—THOREAU.
"Life is sweet, brother…. There's night and day, brother,
both sweet things; sun, moon and stars, brother, all sweet
things; there's likewise the wind on the heath. Life is very
sweet, brother; who would wish to die?"
—BORROW: Jasper Petulengro.