ng occupation in his farm, and his cottagers regular
employment under him. To these operations the high troughs, great
garners and chests, yet remaining, bear faithful witness. Within, the
mistress, her maid-servants, and daughters, were occupied in spinning
flax for the linen of the family, which was woven at home. Cloth, if not
always manufactured out of their own wool, was purchased by wholesale,
and made up into clothes at home also."[58]

This is a true picture of the simple habits of our ancestors, and will
apply, with little variation, to the scene before us.

Here might be seen the carved "armoury,"--the wardrobe, bright, clean,
and even magnificent. On the huge rafters hung their usual store of
dried hams, beef, mutton, and flitches of bacon. In the store-room,
great chests were filled to the brim with oatmeal and flour. All wore
the aspect of plenty, and an hospitality that feared neither want nor
diminution.

In one corner of the hall at Waddington sat Mistress Joan, her only
daughter Elizabeth, and two or three female domestics.

They had been spinning, trolling out the while their country ditties
with great pathos and simplicity.

Being nigh supper-time, the group were just loitering in the twilight
ere they separated for the meal.

"Come, Elizabeth," said her mother, "lay thy gear aside; the
strawberries are in the bowl, and the milk is served. Supper and to bed,
and a brisk nap while morning."

The dame who addressed her was a perfect specimen of the good housewife
in the fifteenth century. She wore a quilted woollen gown, open before,
with pendant sleeves, and a long narrow train; a corset, fitted close to
the body, unto which the petticoats were attached, and a boddice laced
outside. She wore the horned head-dress so fashionable towards the close
of the fourteenth century, and at that time still in use, giving the
head and face no slight resemblance to the ace of hearts. An apron was
tied on with great care, ornamented with embroidery of the preceding
century. Her complexion, was dark but clear, and her eyebrows high and
well-arched. Her mouth was drawn in, raised slightly on one side,--a
conformation more particularly apparent when engaged in scolding the
maids, or in other similar but indispensable occupations.

Her gait was firm, and her person upright. Her age--ungallant historians
we must be--was verging closely upon sixty; yet her hair, turned crisp
and full behind her head-dress, showed