To Colonel Bellville.
WE have been all extremely busy today,
celebrating a harvest home;
a long procession of our village youths, all
drest gaily in fine shirts, adorned with ribbands,
paired with the handsomest of the
country girls, in white jackets and petticoats,
garlands of flowers and wheat-ears
on their heads, their rakes streaming with
various coloured ribbands, which glittered
in the sun-beams, preceded the harvest cart;
on which, in a bower of green boughs,
stood a beautiful little girl, drest in the
rural stile, with inimitable elegance, by the
hands of Lady Julia herself. The gay
procession walked slowly through the village;
a tabor and pipe playing before them,
till they came before the house, where they
danced a thousand little rustic dances, the
novelty of which charmed me extremely:
they then adjourned to the hall, where a
plentiful feast was provided, and where the
whole village were that night my Lord's
guests.
Lord Belmont is extremely fond of all
these old customs, and will suffer none of
them to be left off on his estate. The prospect
of this festivity, he says, chears them in
their labor, and is a laudable tribute of gladness
to that beneficent Being, to whose
bounty we owe the full reward of our toil,
the plenteous harvest, and who rejoices in
the happiness of his creatures.
Besides, says my Lord, all these amusements
encourage a spirit of matrimony, and
encrease the number of my people.
And pray, my dear Lord, to they encourage
no other spirit?
No, Madam; Lady Belmont's anger
and mine would, in such a case, they know,
contrary to that of the world, fall chiefly
where it ought, on the seducer, who would
be for ever expelled my estate, the heaviest
punishment I could possibly inflict. Then,
as I am a declared enemy to interested marriages,
the young people are allowed to
chuse for themselves, which removes the
temptation to vice, which is generally caused
by the shameful avarice of parents.
Our example too is of great service, and
allures them to a regular behaviour; they
think that must be the happiest life, which
we, who have the power of chusing, prefer;
and therefore it is the fashion amongst them
to be regular, and seek their happiness, as
we do, at home.
I believe my Lord is right: I am well
pleased too, he throws the blame on you
he wretches, and excuses the poor lasses.
In the eye of the world it is to be sure "toute
au contraire;" but my Lord and Lady
Belmont are so singular as to see with their
own eyes.
Adieu! We are all to go down one
dance with the villagers; and I hear the
tabor and pipe.
Oh! Heavens! a coach and six, in the Mandeville
livery! a running footman; it must
by Lady Mary; I will enquire. It is herself;
my Lord flies to receive her in the
court; Lady Belmont and Lady Julia are
at the door; she alights; I never saw her
before; her figure is striking, full of dignity,
and that grace which is almost lost in
this generation; she enters the house, leaning
on my Lord. I am grieved Harry is
gone; I wished her to be some time with
him; she only just saw him as he ;came
through London in his way to Belmont.
But I must go to pay my respects.
Adieu!
