My Book House (12 Volume Set)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 edition. Excerpt: ...with steps below and open arches above, the traders in corn and country produce held market. A gay and lively scene was Stratford on market day. Not far from Stratford lay the little forest village of Snitterfield, where Will's grandfather and Uncle Henry Shakespeare had farms. Every boundary tree and stone, every pond and sheeppool, every barn and cattleshed on the way to his Uncle Henry's farm Will knew by heart, for he dearly loved the place and spent many a happy day there. At Snitterfield Will trotted around after his uncle, poking into all the byres and barns and poultry yards, and the man was charmed at the boy's eager interest. Now and again from a safe nook on the bushy margin of a pool, he enjoyed the fun and excitement of the sheep washing, or watched the mysteries of the sheep shearing. Then he would remain to the shearing feast and see the young maid who was chosen Queen of the Festival receive her rustic guests and distribute among them her gifts of flowers. Indeed, young Will Shakespeare's youth was passed amid the labors and pastimes, the recurring festivals and varying round of a rural community. Each incident of the year, seedtime and harvest, summer and winter, brought its own group of picturesque merry-makings in those forest farms and villages. The chief holiday of all was May-day with its mosques and morris-dances, its hobby horses making continuous merriment, and its maypoles decked with gay-colored streamers and fragrant garlands. What a day it was! In the streets of Stratford leafy screens and arches were erected, and everywhere were garlands of flowers, brought in from the forest at dawn by rejoicing youths and maidens. A spontaneous outburst of joy, a gladsome welcome to the re-awakening life and vernal...