Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 31.djvu/116

106 streamers, and the wood conveyed home with much noise and merriment, much in the ancient English style of bringing in the Yule-log. On their return from the forest, the court-yard gate is found to be closed, or else a rope from which are depended straw bunches and bundles, is stretched across the entrance. The women now advance with much clatter of pots and pans, and pretend to defend the yard against the besiegers; but the men tear down the rope and drive in triumphantly, each catching at a straw-bundle in passing. Some of these are found to contain cakes or apples, others only broken crockery or egg-shells. The young men sit up late into the night, splitting up the logs into suitable size for fire-wood. Their duties further consist in lighting the fire, drawing water from the well, and putting it to boil on the hearth. Thus they work till well into the small hours of the morning, now and then refreshing themselves with a hearty draught of home-made wine, the women meanwhile having lain down to rest.

When all is prepared, it is then the turn of the men to take some sleep, and they wake the girls with an old song, running somewhat as follows:

 All in tho early morning gray A lass would rise at break of day. Arise, arise, Fair lass, arise, And ope your eyes, For darkness flies, And your true-love will come to-day.

The lassie would so early fill Her pitcher at the running rill. Awake, awake, Fair lass, awake, The dawn doth break, Your pitcher take, For come to-day your true-love will."

Another song of equally ancient origin is sung the evening before the marriage, when the bride takes leave of her friends and relations:

 I walked beside the old church-wall, My love stood there, but weeping all. I greeted her, and then she spake: 'Dear love, my heart is like to break. I must away, I must be gone; When to return, God knows alone! When to return?—when the black crow Bears on its wing plumes white as snow!'

I set two roses in my father's land— O father, dearest father, give me again thy hand!