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。