CHAPTER IX.

Popular Places of Resort -- Wakes, Statutes, and Fairs -- the Wake, the Feast of the Dedication of the Parish Church, now dwindled into a Village Holiday -- Anticipation of it by the Rural People -- Wake Festivities -- the Wake, in some places yet connected with Church-rites. -- STATUTES: Meetings by Legal Statute for the Hiring of Servants -- Attendance of Farmers, their Wives, and Men and Women Servants -- their Appearance -- Shepherds, Ploughmen, Milkmaids, and their Insignia -- Earnest-Money -- Afternoon Jollification -- in the Northern Counties the Bondage Girls hired at similar Meetings -- FAIRS: Places of both Business and Pleasure to all Classes of Country People -- Nottingham Great October and Goose Fair taken as a specimen -- Preparations for its Attendance -- Fair Scenery and Characters -- Proclamation of the Fair -- Corporation Procession -- Gig Fair -- Peculiar Tastes and Pleasures of Fair-goers -- Good Subjects for the Painter presented 493