Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/361

Rh brother come to live with me, but I must be very quiet, as my mother was very unwell in the next room, as little brother was asleep; but if I would be a very good child she would dress me, and then wrap me round with Mothers beautiful scarlet Cloak (the same I had before been indulged with) and take me to the hall window to see my Father distribute the Milk. It was a good old custom at that time in the parish of Wootton for the poor Women to go to the farm Houses on the morning of Whitsunday and milk the Cows; and the Milk was then divided amongst them; and every poor family indulged in a luxury on that day named Frumentary, something like rice Milk, only that it was made with baked Wheat instead of rice, and when properly palated with sugar and spice was a very nice article. I do not recollect being present at this ceremony at any other time, and the Window where I was plac'd to overlook the poor people below in the Court is still present to my thoughts. It was large and lofty, yet yielding but little light, for the panes of Glass were so very small, and the stone mullions by which the space was divided so very stout, which will not be wonder'd at when I say that the Walls of the House were rather more than four feet in thickness; and this said Hall Window was so far distant from the floor that even a tall Person could not look out without mounting upon a stout Oak Table which stood under, us'd for no other purpose. To render this mounting up easy a neat pair of steps was kept at one end, and when upon the Table you were just right for a seat upon the Windowboard, which was just four feet wide, and a shutter occasionally drew up, so that it was a safe seat for a Child; but this account may be truly call'd much ado about nothing

"The village of Wootton Wawen was in direct road betwixt London and Birmingham. About an hundred yards to the right hand of the bottom of the Bridge stood a May Pole which I recollect being dressd in due form for several years, and a high holiday it was considered by the neighbouring population. Round this said May Pole was a rude seat, on which Men, Women, and Children used to crowd for a seat at the appointed hours on Monday morning and Saturday afternoon to witness the passing of the stage coach."