Thursdaywasmarketday.Chapswithroundredfaceslikepumpkinsanddirtysmodhugebootscoveredwithdrycow-dung,carryinglonghazelswitches,usedtodrivetheirbrutesintothemarket-placeearlyinthem.Forhoursthere’dbeaterrifichullabaloo:dogsbarking,pigssquealing,chapsintradesmen’svanswhowaogetthroughthecrushcragtheirwhipsandcursing,andeveryonewhohadanythingtodowiththecattleshoutingandthrowingsticks.Thebignoisewasalwayswhentheybroughtabulltomarket.Evenatthatageitstruckmethatmostofthebullswereharmlesslaw-abidingbrutesthatonlywaogettotheirstallsinpeace,butabullwouldn’thavebeenregardedasabullifhalfthetownhadn’thadtoturnoutandchaseit.Sometimessometerrifiedbrute,generallyahalf-grownheifer,usedtobreaklooseandchargedownasidestreet,andthenanyoneeobeinthewaywouldstandinthemiddleoftheroadandswinghisarmsbackwardslikethesailsofawindmill,shouting,‘Woo!Woo!’Thisposedtohaveakindofhypnoticeffeananimalaainlyitdidfrightenthem.

    Half-waythroughthemsomeofthefarmerswouldeintotheshopandrunsamplesofseedthroughtheirfingers.ActuallyFatherdidverylittlebusinesswiththefarmers,becausehehadnodeliveryvanandcouldn’taffivelos.Mostlyhedidaratherpettyclassofbusiness,poultryfoodandfodderforthetradesmen’shorsesandsoforth.OldBrewer,oftheMillFarm,whowasastingyoldbastardwithagrey-beard,usedtostandthereforhalfanhour,fingeringsamplesofchiaingthemdropintohispocketina-mindedmanner,afterwhich,ofcourse,hefinallyusedtomakeoffwithoutbuyinganything.Intheeveningsthepubswerefullofdrunkenmen.Inthosedaysbeercosttwopenceapint,anduhebeernowad