The country was never dull for long, April soon passed and May Day was upon us. Small things gave us such happiness and we looked forward with great preparations to this day. Our village carpenter made a beautiful Maypole, all striped it was […] [and] at last it was released and on its way to the meadow, a clean and fairly level patch chosen, the maypole reared up and held into its place with stones. 

Then came the time for the piano to be moved, this was a major operation […] and with much sweating and blowing the boys would at last have the instrument through the door, across the lumpy playground, through the wicket gate and into the meadow at a reasonable distance from the maypole. 

[...]

The Maypole dancers tripped along to take up their positions, the piano struck up a very loud chord, “Ready Children?”

One, two, three four.

See the day the welcome day is dawning

Cloudless the sky this happy mayday morning

Wake now wake! the group you must be joining 

Out on the green to dance this bright mayday. 

and there was nothing, no nothing that could make country children happier than to be dancing and singing amongst the buttercups and daisies.

[…]

Then perhaps another song—there were so many to choose from—“I love to roam in the morning when all is smiles around”. More country dancing.  Jenny Pluckpears, Gathering Peascods, Shepherds hey, Sallengers round - well we could have gone one for ever, life was so full of joy.