Page:My people stories of the peasantry of West Wales.djvu/250



milk Old Shemmi’s cows, and while they did so each chanted:
 * “There's a nice cow is Gwen!
 * Milk she gives indeed!
 * More milk, little Gwen; more milk!
 * A cow fach is Gwen,”

thereby coaxing the animals to give their full yield.

When the milk was separated Esther put on her Sabbath garments and drew her red hair tightly over her forehead, and she took her place in Shemmi’s hay-waggon. There were many in the waggon other than Esther and Sam, for the custom is that the farmer takes his servants and those who have helped him without payment in the hayfield freely on a set day to the Sea of Morfa.

Shemmi’s waggon reached Morfa before the dew had lifted, and towards the heat of the day (after they had eaten) the people of Manteg gathered together. One