[The dew-cup is the first draught of beer given to reapers before they begin harvest work.]
“We’ve had kindness always, and beer always, and money always when we have earned it, sometimes afore that wi’ some on ye, and to-day we’ve had sports and prizes as we don’t get every day in England; so I ax ye to drink the health of Master Ashbrook.”
The health was drunk with wild enthusiasm.
“And, now,” said Doughty, “let’s hear you join in wi’ me in the harvest song, and we’ll sing it in the good old style.”
When the harvest song (which has appeared too often in print to need further recording) was concluded, John Ashbrook rose and thanked them, and then, without sitting down, sang a song in praise of the “Lord of the Harvest.” All rose while Doughty remained seated. At the end of the song Joe commenced a song in praise of the head carter. The company rose again and joined him in the characteristic chorus, “With a halt, with a ree, with a wo, with a gee;”—then the carter sang to the shepherd, the shepherd to the thatcher, and so on.
All these little musical arrangements had been decided on weeks before the appointed day, and it had taken some of the vocalists months to learn their parts.
By the time their complimentary songs were ended it was quite dark. A large camphine lamp, which occupied the centre of the table, supplied the place of the moon, and half a dozen candles played their parts of fixed stars.
“Who’s to be knocked down for the next song?” roared the wood-cutter, in his stentorian voice. “It’s my call—and I calls on—calls on——”
“Come, say it, and ha’ done wi’ it,” said Nat, peevishly. “It rouses my corruption to hear a growed-up man hogglin’ and bogglin’ like that ’ere.”
“Then I calls on you, Nat.”