The Story of a Harvest Tea, 1945

Extract from “The Countryman” journal, Spring 1946

At the end of the casual workers’ season last year we had as usual our harvest tea. The “boughten” cakes must have been fairly good; and the bread and butter was helped down by some home-made preserves and potted meat. Although it was a poor spread, things being as they are in the food line, our guests seemed to understand and enjoyed it…for decorations there were flags, and the words on a rather faded portrait flag stood out, “God bless Queen Victoria.” After the tea Harriet recited “The Boy Stood on the Burning Deck” and “Dare to be a Daniel”, and sang “The Bells of Aberdovey” and “Don’t Hang My Harry; You’ll Break His Poor Mother’s Heart.” During the applause the board placed on apple boxes for a seat collapsed. There was a bit of a mix-up and it was agreed that Polly, who weighs 15 stone, should have a box to herself.

Up to this time young Tommy had had 10 cups of tea and 15 cakes, and Jim had dropped a small stone down Jessie’s back. It was thought that old Lewis should sit by himself at the next party, for he made too much noise when he ate. He hasn’t any teeth. Then, when we had sung “The Bay of Biscay”, “The Cottage on the Hill” and “The Farmer’s Boy”, Alice said she wanted to speak. After wiping her nose on the corner of her apron, she said they all knew how much she liked a drop of beer but she had liked a drop of tea today, and thank God and the master and missus for it. She added that she was never the one to eat too many of her master’s strawberries or raspberries, but she was sure that the ones that had gorged at the tea today were the same as filled their insides in the fields. Alice would have said a lot more but it was cut short by a well-aimed small potato.

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