Page:The New Forest - its history and its scenery.djvu/196

Rh avowed, or will even be acknowledged by the first labourer who may be seen. The English peasant is at all times excessively chary—no one perhaps more so—of expressing his full mind; and a long time is required before a stranger can, if ever, gain his confidence. But I do say that these superstitions are all, with more or less credit, held in different parts of the Forest, although even many who believe them the firmest would shrink, from fear of ridicule, to confess the fact. Education has done something to remove them; but they have too firm a hold to be easily uprooted. They may not be openly expressed, but they are, for all that, to my certain knowledge, still latent.

Old customs and ceremonies still linger. Mummers still perform at Christmas. Old women "go gooding," as in other parts of England, on St. Thomas's Day. Boys and girls "go shroving" on Ash Wednesday; that is, begging for meat and drink at the farm-houses, singing this rude snatch:—

When, if nothing is given, they throw stones and shards at the door. 178