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before Hallowmas； it was called the Maiden； if cut after sunset； it was called the Witch； being supposed to bring bad luck。 Among the Highlanders of Scotland the last corn cut at harvest is known either as the Old Wife （Cailleach） or as the Maiden； on the whole the former name seems to prevail in the western and the latter in the central and eastern districts。 Of the Maiden we shall speak presently； here we are dealing with the Old Wife。 The following general account of the custom is given by a careful and well…informed enquirer； the Rev。 J。 G。 Campbell； minister of the remote Hebridean island of Tiree： The Harvest Old Wife （a Cailleach）。In harvest； there was a struggle to escape from being the last done with the shearing； and when tillage in common existed； instances were known of a ridge being left unshorn （no person would claim it） because of it being behind the rest。 The fear entertained was that of having the 'famine of the farm' （gort a bhaile）； in the shape of an imaginary old woman （cailleach）； to feed till next harvest。 Much emulation and amusement arose from the fear of this old woman 。 。 The first done made a doll of some blades of corn； which was called the 'old wife；' and sent it to his nearest neighbour。 He in turn； when ready； passed it to another still less expeditious； and the person it last remained with had 'the old woman' to keep for that year。
In the island of Islay the last corn cut goes by the name of the Old Wife （Cailleach）； and when she has done her duty at harvest she is hung up on the wall and stays there till the time comes to plough the fields for the next year's crop。 Then she is taken down； and on the first day when the men go to plough she is divided among them by the mistress of the house。 They take her in their pockets and give her to the horses to eat when they reach the field。 This is supposed to secure good luck for the next harvest； and is understood to be the proper end of the Old Wife。
Usages of the same sort are reported from Wales。 Thus in North Pembrokeshire a tuft of the last corn cut； from six to twelve inches long； is plaited and goes by the name of the Hag （wrach）； and quaint old customs used to be practised with it within the memory of many persons still alive。 Great was the excitement among the reapers when the last patch of standing corn was reached。 All in turn threw their sickles at it； and the one who succeeded in cutting it received a jug of home…brewed ale。 The Hag （wrach） was then hurriedly made and taken to a neighbouring farm； where the reapers were still busy at their work。 This was generally done by the ploughman； but he had to be very careful not to be observed by his neighbours； for if they saw him coming and had the least suspicion of his errand they would soon make him retrace his steps。 Creeping stealthily up behind a fence he waited till the foreman of his neighbour's reapers was just opposite him and within easy reach。 Then he suddenly threw the Hag over the fence and； if possible； upon the foreman's sickle。 On that he took to his heels and made off as fast as he could run； and he was a lucky man if he escaped without being caught or cut by the flying sickles which the infuriated reapers hurled after him。 In other cases the Hag was brought home to the farmhouse by one of the reapers。 He did his best to bring it home dry and without being observed； but he was apt to be roughly handled by the people of the house； if they suspected his errand。 Sometimes they stripped him of most of his clothes； sometimes they would drench him with water which had been carefully stored in buckets and pans for the purpose。 If； however； he succeeded in bringing the Hag in dry and unobserved； the master of the house had to pay him a small fine； or sometimes a jug of beer from the cask next to the wall； which seems to have commonly held the best beer； would be demanded by the bearer。 The Hag was then carefully hung on a nail in the hall or elsewhere and kept there all the year。 The custom of bringing in the Hag （wrach） into the house and hanging it up still exists in some farms of North Pembrokeshire； but the ancient ceremonies which have just been described are now discontinued。
In County Antrim； down to some years ago； when the sickle was finally expelled by the reaping machine； the few stalks of corn left standing last on the field were plaited together； then the reapers； blindfolded； threw their sickles at the plaited corn； and whoever happened to cut it through took it home with him and put it over his door。 This bunch of corn was called the Carleyprobably the same word as Carlin。
Similar customs are observed by Slavonic peoples。 Thus in Poland the last sheaf is commonly called the Baba； that is； the Old Woman。 In the last sheaf； it is said； sits the Baba。 The sheaf itself is also called the Baba； and is sometimes composed of twelve smaller sheaves lashed together。 In some parts of Bohemia the Baba； made out of the last sheaf； has the figure of a woman with a great straw hat。 It is carried home on the last harvest…waggon and delivered； along with a garland； to the farmer by two girls。 In binding the sheaves the women strive not to be last； for she who binds the last sheaf will have a child next year。 Sometimes the harvesters call out to the woman who binds the last sheaf； She has the Baba； or She is the Baba。 In the district of Cracow； when a man binds the last sheaf； they say； The Grandfather is sitting in it； when a woman binds it； they say； The Baba is sitting in it； and the woman herself is wrapt up in the sheaf； so that only her head projects out of it。 Thus encased in the sheaf； she is carried on the last harvest…waggon to the house； where she is drenched with water by the whole family。 She remains in the sheaf till the dance is over； and for a year she retains the name of Baba。
In Lithuania the name for the last sheaf is Boba （Old Woman）； answering to the Polish name Baba。 The Boba is said to sit in the corn which is left standing last。 The person who binds the last sheaf or digs the last potato is the subject of much banter； and receives and long retains the name of the Old Rye…woman or the Old Potato…woman。 The last sheafthe Bobais made into the form of a woman； carried solemnly through the village on the last harvest…waggon； and drenched with water at the farmer's house； then every one dances with it。
In Russia also the last sheaf is often shaped and dressed as a woman； and carried with dance and song to the farmhouse。 Out of the last sheaf the Bulgarians make a doll which they call the Corn…queen or Corn…mother； it is dressed in a woman's shirt； carried round the village； and then thrown into the river in order to secure plenty of rain and dew for the next year's crop。 Or it is burned and the ashes strew on the fields； doubtless to fertilise them。 The name Queen； as applied to the last sheaf； has its analogies in Central and Northern Europe。 Thus； in the Salzburg district of Austria； at the end of the harvest a great procession takes place； in which a Queen of the Corn…ears （？hrenk？nigin） is drawn along in a little carriage by young fellows。 The custom of the Harvest Queen appears to have been common in England。 Milton must have been familiar with it； for in Paradise Lost he says：
Adam the while Waiting desirous her return； had wove Of choicest flow'rs a garland to adorn Her tresses； and her rural labours crown； As reapers oft are wont their harvest…queen。
Often customs of this sort are practised； not on the harvest…field but on the threshing…floor。 The spirit of the corn； fleeing before the reapers as they cut down the ripe grain； quits the reaped corn and takes refuge in the barn； where it appears in the last sheaf threshed； either to perish under the blows of the flail or to flee thence to the still unthreshed corn of a neighbouring farm。 Thus the last corn to be threshed is called the Mother…Corn or the Old Woman。 Sometimes the person who gives the last stroke with the flail is called the Old Woman； and is wrapt in the straw of the last sheaf； or has a bundle of straw fastened on his back。 Whether wrapt in the straw or carrying it on his back； he is carted through the village amid general laughter。 In some districts of Bavaria； Thüringen； and elsewhere； the man who threshes the last sheaf is said to have the Old Woman or the Old Corn…woman； he is tied up in straw； carried or carted about the village； and set down at last on the dunghill； or taken to the threshing…floor of a neighbouring farmer who has not finished his threshing。 In Poland the man who gives the last stroke at threshing is called Baba （Old Woman）； he is wrapt in corn and wheeled through the village。 Sometimes in Lithuania the last sheaf is not threshed； but is fashioned into female shape and carried to the barn of a neighbour who has not finished his threshing。
In some parts of Sweden； when a stranger woman appears on the threshing…floor； a flail is put round her body； stalks of corn are wound round her neck； a crown of ears is placed on her head； and the threshers call out； Behold the Corn…woman。 Here the stranger woman； thus suddenly appearing； is taken to be the corn…spirit who has just been expelled by the flails from the corn…stalks。 In other cases the farmer's wife represents t