4 MAY-FAIR DAY AND

makers. The booths of toys were already thronged
with children, who, however, as yet, speculated rather
on what they should buy, than actually bought.
Farmers’ wives were huying cheese-colouring, and
new milking-pails and butter-prints ; and getting their
business all done before dinner, that they and their
daughters might in the afternoon have “a bit of time”
for amusement. ‘The bells rang on more merrily
than ever; the streets, where the horse and cattle-
fairs had been held, were now all in progress of being
swept and cleaned ; and now the roads and the town-
ends were all thronged again with cattle going out,
and country people—lads and lasses, and mothers and
children, and old grandfathers and grandmothers—
coming in, for the afternoon’s fun and merriment.
The four big men, in beef-eater costume, outside the
wild-beast show, blew their trumpets, and the lion
within roared from time to time ; the fire-eater’s per-
formances began ; and the red front of the travelling
theatre had been removed, and there was now seen an
open stage in front of a canvas screen, and gaily
attired nymphs, who looked to vulgar eyes as if stars
of gold and silver had been showered upon them,
walked arm-in-arm, to and fro, attracting the admi-
ration of village swains and big boys, who flocked
thither in crowds; whilst dashing, bandit-looking
men, in cloaks and plumed hats, cast half-gallant,
half-ferocious glances, upon the village maidens, and
thus excited in them the most charming, romantic
terror, which could only be allayed by their going
up, and seeing all the wonders of that enchanted
world which lay behind the canvas, and of which
these beings were the inhabitants.

It was now noon, and the public-houses were full