I mentioned Garlanding a little way back. The day before May 1^st, we would search the meadows for wild flowers. When the season was late, it was a job to find enough […] Well, on the morning of the 1^st, we went from house to house with our garland. It was generally girls and small boys, as when the boys got older, they were shy of that sort of thing.  

This is what we sang in our village:

“Good morning ladies and gentlemen.

I wish you a happy day. 

I come to show our garland

Because it’s First of May. 

A good branch of May I have brought you

And at your door do stand.

It’s only a sprout, but it’s well bedded out.

It’s the work of our Lord’s hands”

After this we sang a verse of the following hymn, Why, I never knew, but it was very prophetic.

“Childhood’s years are passing o’er us,

Youthful days will soon be gone.

Cares and sorrows lie before us,

Hidden dangers, snares unknown.

Oh may he, who meek and lowly

Trod himself the vale of woe,

Make us his, and make us holy, 

Guide and guard us whilst we go.”