Afterus，themaidenscame，milkmaidsandtherestofthem，withBettyMuxworthyattheirhead，scoldingevennow，becausetheywouldnotwalkfitly。Buttheyonlylaughedather；andsheknewitwasnogoodtoscold，withallthemenbehindthem。
　　ThentheSnowescametroopingforward；FarmerNicholasinthemiddle，walkingasifhewouldratherwalktoawheatfieldofhisown，yetcontenttofollowlead，becauseheknewhimselftheleader；andsigningeverynowandthentothepeoplehereandthere，asifIwerenobody。Buttoseehisthreegreatdaughters，strongandhandsomewenches，makinguponeitherside，asifsomebodywouldrunoffwiththem——thiswastheverythingthattaughtmehowtovalueLorna，andherpuresimplicity。
　　AftertheSnowescameJasperKebby，withhiswife，new-married；andaveryhonestpairtheywere，upononlyahundredacres，andarightofcommon。Afterthesethemencamehotly，withoutdecentorder，tryingtospythegirlsinfront，andmakegoodjokesaboutthem，atwhichtheirwiveslaughedheartily，beingjealouswhenaloneperhaps。Andafterthesemenandtheirwivescameallthechildrentoddling，pickingflowersbytheway，andchatteringandaskingquestions，asthechildrenwill。Theremusthavebeenthreescoreofus，takeonewithanother，andthelanewasfullofpeople。Whenwewerecometothebigfield-gate，wherethefirstsicklewastobe，ParsonBowdenheaveduptherailwiththesleevesofhisgowndonegreenwithit；andhesaidthateverybodymighthearhim，thoughhisbreathwasshort，’InthenameoftheLord，Amen!’
　　’Amen!Sobeit!’criedtheclerk，whowasfarbehind，beingonlyashoemaker。
　　ThenParsonBowdenreadsomeversesfromtheparishBible，tellingustoliftupoureyes，andlookuponthefieldsalreadywhitetoharvest；andthenhelaidtheBibledownonthesquareheadofthegate-post，anddespitehisgownandcassock，threegoodswipeshecutoffcorn，andlaidthemrightendonwards。Allthistimetherestwerehuddlingoutsidethegate，andalongthelane，notdaringtointerferewithparson，butwhisperinghowwellhedidit。
　　Whenhehadstowedthecornlikethat，motherentered，leaningonme，andwebothsaid，’ThanktheLordforallHismercies，andthesethefirst-fruitsofHishand!’Andthentheclerkgaveoutapsalmversebyverse，doneverywell；althoughhesneezedinthemidstofit，fromabeardofwheatthrustuphisnosebytherivalcobbleratBrendon。Andwhenthepsalmwassung，sostronglythatthefoxglovesonthebankwereshaking，likeachimeofbells，atit，Parsontookastoopofcider，andweallfelltoatreaping。
　　OfcourseImeanthemen，notwomen；althoughIknowthatupthecountry，womenareallowedtoreap；andrightwelltheyreapit，keepingrowforrowwithmen，comely，andindueorder，yet，meseems，themenmustillattendtotheirownreaping-hooks，infearlesttheothercutthemselves，beingtheweakervessel。Butinourpart，womendowhatseemstheirproperbusiness，followingwellbehindthemen，outofharmoftheswinginghook，andstoopingwiththeirbreastsandarmsuptheycatchtheswathesofcorn，wherethereaperscastthem，andtuckingthemtogethertightlywithawisplaidunderthem，thistheyfetcharoundandtwist，withakneetokeepitclose；andlo，thereisagoodlysheaf，readytosetupinstooks!Afterthesethechildrencome，gatheringeachforhislittleself，ifthefarmerberight-minded；untileachhathabundlemadeasbigashimselfandlonger，andtumblesnowandagainwithit，inthedeeperpartofthestubble。
　　We，themen，keptmarchingonwardsdowntheflankoftheyellowwall，withkneesbentwide，andleftarmbowedandrightarmflashingsteel。Eachmaninhisseveralplace，keepingdowntherigorchine，ontherightsideofthereaperinfront，andtheleftofthemanthatfollowedhim，eachmakingfarthersweepandinroadintothegoldenbreadthanddepth，eachcastingleftwardshisrichclearanceonhisforegoer’sdoubletrack。
　　Solikehalfawedgeofwildfowl，toandfrowesweptthefield；andwhentoeitherhedgewecame，sickleswantedwhetting，andthroatsrequiredmoistening，andbackswereinneedofeasing，andeverymanhadmuchtosay，andwomenwantedpraising。Thenallreturnedtotheotherend，withreaping-hooksbeneathourarms，anddogslefttomindjackets。
　　Butnow，willyoubelievemewell，orwillyouonlylaughatme？Forevenintheworldofwheat，whendeepamongthevarnishedcrispnessofthejointedstalks，andbelowthefeatheredyieldingofthegracefulheads，evenasIgrippedtheswathesandsweptthesickleroundthem，evenasIflungthembytorestonbrotherstubble，throughthewhirlingyellowworld，andeagernessofreaping，camethevisionofmylove，aswithdowncasteyesshewonderedatmypowerofpassion。
　　Andthenthesweetremembranceglowedbrighterthanthesunthroughwheat，throughmyverydepthofheart，ofhowsheraisedthosebeamingeyes，andripenedinmybreastrichhope。EvennowIcoulddescry，likehighwavesinthedistance，theroundedheadsandfoldedshadowsofthewoodofBagworthy。Perhapsshewaswalkinginthevalley，andsoftlygazingupatthem。
　　Oh，tobeabirdjustthere!IcouldseeabrightmisthangingjustabovetheDooneGlen。Perhapsitwassheddingitsdrizzleuponher。Oh，tobeadropofrain!Theverybreezewhichbowedtheharvesttomybosomgently，mighthavecomedirectfromLorna，withhersweetvoiceladen。Ah，theflawsofairthatwanderwheretheywillaroundher，fanherbrightcheek，playwithlashes，evenrevelinherhairandrevealherbeauties——manisbutabreath，weknow，wouldIweresuchbreathasthat!
　　Butconfoundit，whileIponder，withdeliciousdreamssuspended，withmyrightarmhangingfrustrateandthegiantsickledrooped，withmyleftarmbowedforclaspingsomethingmoregermanethanwheat，andmyeyesnotmindingbusiness，butintentondistantwoods——confoundit，whatarethemenabout，andwhyamIleftvapouring？Theyhavetakenadvantageofme，therogues!Theyaregonetothehedgeforthecider-jars；
　　theyhavehadupthesleddofbreadandmeat，quitesoftlyoverthestubble，andifIcanbelievemyeyessodazedwithLorna’simage，theyaresittingdowntoanexcellentdinner，beforethechurchclockhasgoneeleven!
　　’JohnFry，youbigvillain!’Icried，withJohnhangingupintheairbythescruffofhisneck-cloth，butholdingstillbyhisknifeandfork，andagoose-leginbetweenhislips，’JohnFry，whatmeanyoubythis，sir？’
　　’Lattmedowun，orIcan’ttell’e，’Johnansweredwithsomedifficulty。SoIlethimcomedown，andImustconfessthathehadreasononhisside。’Plaiseyourworship’——Johncalledmeso，eversinceIreturnedfromLondon，firmlybelievingthattheKinghadmademeamagistrateatleast；thoughIwastokeepitsecret——
　　’uszeedashowyourworshipweretookwiththinkin’ofKing’sbusiness，inthemiddleofthewhate-rigg：andsouzzed，“Lattuncoomtohiszell，ushadbetterzavetaime，bytakkingourdinner“；andhereusbe，praiseyourworship，andhoppsnooffencewiththickironspoonfullofvriedtaties。’
　　Iwasgladenoughtoaccepttheladlefulloffriedbatatas，andtomakethebestofthings，whichisgenerallydonebylettingmenhavetheirownway。
　　ThereforeImanagedtodinewiththem，althoughitwassoearly。
　　ForaccordingtoallthatIcanfind，inalonglifeandavariedone，twelveo’clockistherealtimeforamantohavehisdinner。Thenthesunisathisnoon，callinghalttolookaround，andthentheplantsandleavesareturning，eachwithalittleleisuretime，beforetheworkoftheafternoon。Thenisthebalanceofeastandwest，andthentherightandleftsideofamanareindueproportion，andcontributefairlywithharmoniousfluids。Andthehealthofthismodeoflife，anditsreclaimingvirtuearewellsetforthinourancientrhyme，——
　　Sunrise，breakfast；sunhigh，dinner；
　　Sundown，sup；makesasaintofasinner。
　　Whish，thewheatfalls!Whirlagain；yehavehadgooddinners；giveyourmasterandmistressplentytosupplyanotheryear。Andintruthwedidreapwellandfairly，throughthewholeofthatafternoon，Inotonlykeepinglead，butkeepingthemenuptoit。Wegotthroughamatteroftenacres，erethesunbetweentheshocksbrokehislightonwheatenplumes，thenhunghisredcloakontheclouds，andfellintogreyslumber。
　　Seeingthiswewipedoursickles，andourbreastsandforeheads，andsoonwereonthehomewardroad，lookingforwardtogoodsupper。
　　Ofcourseallthereaperscameatnighttotheharvest-supper，andParsonBowdentosaythegraceaswellastohelptocarveforus。Andsomehelpwasneededthere，Icanwellassureyou；forthereapershadbraveappetites，andmostoftheirwiveshavingbabieswereforcedtoeatasaduty。Neitherfailedtheyofthisduty；cutandcomeagainwastheorderoftheevening，asithadbeenoftheday；andIhadnotimetoaskquestions，buthelpmeatandladlegravy。
　　AllthewhileourdarlingAnnie，withhersleevestuckedup，andhercomelyfigurepanting，wasrunningaboutwithabucketoftatiesmashedwithlardandcabbage。EvenLizziehadleftherbooks，andwasservingoutbeerandcider；whilemotherhelpedplum-puddinglargelyonpewter-plateswiththemutton。
　　Andallthetime，BettyMuxworthywasgruntinginandouteverywhere，nothavingspacetoscoldeven，butchangingthedishes，servingthemeat，pokingthefire，andcookingmore。ButJohnFrywouldnotstirapeg，exceptwithhisknifeandfork，havingalltheairsofavisitor，andhiswifetokeephimeating，tillI
　　thoughttherewouldbenoendofit。
　　Thenhavingeatenalltheycould，theypreparedthemselves，withoneaccord，forthebusinessnowofdrinking。Butfirsttheyliftedtheneckofcorn，dressedwithribbonsgaily，andsetituponthemantelpiece，eachmanwithhishorna-froth；andthentheysangasongaboutit，everyoneshoutinginthechoruslouderthanharvestthunderstorm。Somewereinthemiddleofoneverse，andsomeattheendofthenextone；yetsomehowallmanagedtogettogetherinthemightyroaroftheburden。AndifanyfarmerupthecountrywouldliketoknowExmoorharvest-songassunginmytimeandwillbesunglongafterIamgarneredhome，lo，hereIsetitdownforhim，omittingonlythedialect，whichperchancemightpuzzlehim。
　　Thecorn，ohthecorn，’tistheripeningofthecorn!
　　Gountothedoor，mylad，andlookbeneaththemoon，Thoucanstsee，beyondthewoodrick，howitisyelloon：
　　’Tistheharvestingofwheat，andthebarleymustbeshorn。
　　Chorus
　　Thecorn，ohthecorn，andtheyellow，mellowcorn!
　　Here’stothecorn，withthecupsupontheboard!
　　We’vebeenreapingalltheday，andwe’llreapagainthemornAndfetchithometomow-yard，andthenwe’llthanktheLord。
　　2
　　Thewheat，ohthewheat，’tistheripeningofthewheat!
　　Allthedayithasbeenhangingdownitsheavyhead，Bowingoveronourbosomswithabeardofred：
　　’Tistheharvest，andthevaluemakesthelaboursweet。
　　Chorus
　　Thewheat，ohthewheat，andthegolden，goldenwheat!
　　Here’stothewheat，withtheloavesupontheboard!
　　We’vebeenreapingalltheday，andweneverwillbebeat，Butfetchitalltomow-yard，andthenwe’llthanktheLord。
　　3
　　Thebarley，ohthebarley，andthebarleyisinprime!
　　Allthedayithasbeenrustling，withitsbristlesbrown，Waitingwithitsbeardabowing，tillitcanbemown!
　　’Tistheharvestandthebarleymustabideitstime。
　　Chorus
　　Thebarley，ohthebarley，andthebarleyruddybrown!
　　Here’stothebarley，withthebeerupontheboard!
　　We’llgoamowing，soonaseverallthewheatisdown；
　　Whenallisinthemow-yard，we’llstop，andthanktheLord。
　　4
　　Theoats，ohtheoats，’tistheripeningoftheoats!
　　Allthedaytheyhavebeendancingwiththeirflakesofwhite，Waitingforthegirding-hook，tobethenags’delight：
　　’Tistheharvest，letthemdangleintheirskirtedcoats。
　　Chorus
　　Theoats，ohtheoats，andthesilver，silveroats!
　　Here’stotheoatswiththeblackstoneontheboard!
　　We’llgoamongthem，whenthebarleyhasbeenlaidinrotes：
　　Whenallishometomow-yard，we’llkneelandthanktheLord。