Gents Mag 1890 part 1 p.533
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list, 4th qtr 19th century | ||
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Gentleman's Magazine 1890 part 1 p.533
list, Washing, of course, is preparatory to shearing; and this comes in a fortnight. All the dale responds. Goodwill is one of the characteristics of the "statesmen." For shearing, as for washing, the sheep have to be gathered in; and this sometimes takes two days and a night to accomplish. The animals are brought down the mountain-road to the farm and placed in rude stone folds, each holding perhaps a hundred sheep. The shearers arrive from up and down the dale, and among them come the parson and the squire, all in white "overalls." The shearers seat themselves on "creels" ranged round the main fold, and a dozen stout lads come as "catchers" to supply their elders with sheep. Bright bands are produced to tie the goat-like legs of the Herdwicks, and the flash and the metallic "click" of the shears are seen and heard afar. Soon the scene is one of the most picturesque animation. A turf fire is lighted, and upon this a pan or tar bubbles and boils. Standing by it are the owner of the flock and the parson. They stamp the former's initials and the smit-marks upon the sleek sheep just freed from their cumbersome coats. The squire goes round among the sheaers and acts as "doctor." He carries a small can of mixed salve and tar, which he applies to the cuts accidentally made in shearing. These snips are common, but arise more frequently from the sheep's kicking than from carelessness in the shearer. Two or three girls rid the clippers of the stripped fleeces; and these, together with the fallen wool, are place upon unhinged barn-doors by two portly dames from down dale; they are then stowed away in the wool-loft. When all the flock is stripped, comes the banquet. And such a one! huge rounds of beef, legs of veal and of mutton, qtrs of lamb, hams and pies of every description. There are sweet puddings and pies, and all things else in keeping. Then the company withdraw to the barn, where creels are ranged round against the hay-mows, and strong ales and trays of tobacco are passed among the guests. A long table is placed down the middle. the parson presiding at one end, the squire at the other. Glasses are filled, smoke-wreaths begin to ascend, and the ballads of the dalesfolk are sung. Most of these ditties have for their subject-matter some "Bet Bouncer," or commemorate remarkable foxhunts in the district, and are all productions of the company's immediate ancestors; and on such occasion the parson drank, sang, and smoked in as orthodox a manner as the rest. This is said in nowise disrespectfully. The parson was one of ourselves, tilled his glebe, and had a sheep-run on the fells. These constituted part of his "living." |
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