re empty.

The town was at that time quiet enough, for all the shops were closed,
and most of the young men and maidens, as well as large parties of
children, had gone into the surrounding woods to cut boughs and gather
wild flowers.

The housewives, however, were eager to purchase their fresh-caught
pilchards, to make into huge pasties, which, with clotted cream, forms
the favourite Cornish dish.

They had already disposed of a considerable portion of their freight,
when they saw a large party approaching along the principal
thoroughfare. It consisted of a number of young people, boys and girls,
their heads decked with wreaths of flowers, and holding in their hands
green boughs, which they waved to and fro as they advanced, singing--

"Once more the merry month of May
Has come, and driven old winter away;
And so as now green boughs we bring,
We merrily dance and merrily sing.
No more we dread the frost and snow,
No more the winter breezes blow;
But summer suns and azure skies
Warm our hearts and please our eyes.
And so we dance and so we sing,
And here our woodland trophies bring;
Hurra, hurra, hurra, hurra!
What can with our Flurry dance compare?"

Thus the merry party went dancing and singing through the town, every
one running out from their houses to greet and applaud them.

A large number of carriages and vehicles of all sorts now appeared,
conveying the inhabitants of the surrounding district, who came in
summer attire, decked with spring flowers, preceded by a band of music.

They all assembled before the Town Hall, when the Flurry dance
commenced. Rows of ladies and gentlemen formed opposite each other,
then, moving forward, they set to each other in couples, and proceeded
thus, dancing and singing, down the streets. Garden-gates stood open,
and many of the doors of the larger houses. Through them the dancers
entered, continuing their evolutions up and down the gravel walks and
through the halls, all ranks and classes mingling together. All seemed
in good humour; in spite of the exercise they were taking, none appeared
fatigued or willing to stop.

The Flurry tune which was played is a peculiar one, evidently of great
antiquity, and probably the custom had its origin as far back as the
feast of Flora, when pagan rites were performed in the country, or,
perhaps, it originally was instituted to celebrate a victory over the
Saxons; or it may be a remnant of some old Celti