Having now made the promenade of the fair, let us step into one of the suttling booths.  The principal booth was the Robin Hood, behind Garlick-row, which was fitted up with a good sized kitchen, detached from a long room and parlour.  Here were tables covered with baize, and settles of common boards covered with matting.  The roof covering was of hair cloth, the same as the shops, but not boarded.

When a new-comer or fresh man arrived to keep the fair, he was required to submit to the ceremony of christening, as it was called, which was performed as follows:—­On the night following the horse-fair day, which was the principal day of the whole fair, a select party occupied the parlour of the Robin Hood, or some other suttling booth, to which the novice was introduced, as desirous of being admitted a member, and of being initiated.  He was then required to choose two of the company as sponsors, and being placed in an arm-chair, his shoes were taken off, and his head uncovered.  The officiator, vested in a cantab’s gown and cap, with a book in one hand and a bell in the other, with a verger on each side, robed, and holding staves (alias broomsticks) and candles, preceded by the suttler, bearing a bowl of punch, entered the parlour, and demanded “If there was an infidel present?” Being answered, “Yes,” he asked, “What did he require?” Answer.  “To be initiated.” Q. “Where are the oddfathers?” R. “Here we are.”  He then proceeded as follows:—­

          (Plain chant.)

  “Over thy head I ring this bell,
                         [Rings the bell,
  Because thou art an infidel,
  And such I know thee by thy smell.

CHORUS.

  With a hoccius proxius mandamus,
  Let no vengeance light on him,
  And so call upon him.”

Supper was then served up, at the moderate charge of one shilling a head, exclusive of beer and liquors.  The cloth being cleared, the smokers ranged themselves round the fire, and kept up the meeting with mirth and harmony, till all retired and were lulled to anticipating dreams of the profits of the coming day, to which they woke with the sun, cheerful and unenvious of each other’s success.  Such was Stirbitch fair some sixty years ago, as witnessed by

Your constant reader,

[Greek:  Senua]

    [3] A church or chapel is generally to be found throughout the whole
        Christian world near a ferry, to which the passenger went to
        propitiate the Deity before embarking, and to express his
        gratitude when safely arrived.

* * * * *

NOTES ON NORTHERN LITERATURE.

(For the Mirror.)