(_To the Editor of the Mirror_.)
Three years ago you gave a pleasing illustration of "_the Amusements
of May_," and at the same time lamented the decrease of village
festivity and rural merriment, which in days langsyne cheered the honest
hearts and lightened the daily toil of our rustic ancestors. From the
sentiments you express on that occasion, I am led to fancy that it will
afford you pleasure to hear that the song, the dance, and innocent
revelry are not quite forgotten in some part of our land, and that the
sweet and smiling spring is not suffered to make his lovely appearance
without one welcome shout from the sons and daughters of our happy
island; and, therefore, I will recount to you (and by your permission
to the readers of the MIRROR) a village fête which I lately witnessed
and enjoyed. On the 9th inst. (Whit-Tuesday), after a few miles' walk,
I arrived in the village of Shillingston (_Dorsetshire_), whose
inhabitants annually dedicate this day to those pastimes which (as one
of your correspondents has observed) seem a sort of first offering to
gentle skies, and are consecrated by the smiles of the tender year.
Attracted by musical sounds, and following my ears instead of my nose,
I soon found my way to the vicarage-house, where the company were just
arriving in procession, preceded by a pink and white silken banner,
while a pipe and tabor regulated their march. Next after the music
were four men each bearing a large garland of flowers, and after them
followed the merry lads and smiling lasses in good order and arrayed
in their holiday kirtles. The vicar's house stands on a fine lawn
commanding a most enchanting view. On this verdant carpet, after a
promenade and general salute to their worthy pastor and his numerous
guests, dancing took place; for the time all distinctions were laid
aside, and the greatest gentry in the neighbourhood, taking the hand of
their more humble neighbours, led them through the mazy dance with a
feeling of kindness, friendship, and good humour such as I have seldom
witnessed. Two or three hours of as beautiful an evening as ever zephyr
kissed were thus spent, after which, drawing up before the house "the
King" was given, with three times three; next came "God save the King,"
and then "_Hurrah for the Bonnets o' Blue_" led the party off in
the order they came to witness the ceremony of "dressing" the May-Pole.
About five hundred yards brought us to the elevated object on which was
placed, with all due solemnity, the before-mentioned garlands, and the
pole being considered fully dressed, we all adjourned to a large barn,
where dancing was kept up with great spirit, until night drew her sable
curtain over the scene, and the company retired with light hearts and
weary feet to their peaceful homes.
Such, sir, is the Dorsetshire way of hailing the return of gentle skies
and genial seasons; a custom of the olden time, which is productive of
good feeling among all classes, and is at present conducted with good
order and respectability.
_Sturminster_.