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orn…spirit or his representatives； III。 the treatment of visitors to the harvest field or of strangers passing it。
I。 In regard to the first head； we have seen that in modern Europe the person who cuts or binds or threshes the last sheaf is often exposed to rough treatment at the hands of his fellow…labourers。 For example； he is bound up in the last sheaf； and； thus encased； is carried or carted about； beaten； drenched with water； thrown on a dunghill； and so forth。 Or； if he is spared this horse…play； he is at least the subject of ridicule or is thought to be destined to suffer some misfortune in the course of the year。 Hence the harvesters are naturally reluctant to give the last cut at reaping or the last stroke at threshing or to bind the last sheaf； and towards the close of the work this reluctance produces an emulation among the labourers； each striving to finish his task as fast as possible； in order that he may escape the invidious distinction of being last。 For example； in the Mittelmark district of Prussia； when the rye has been reaped； and the last sheaves are about to be tied up； the binders stand in two rows facing each other； every woman with her sheaf and her straw rope before her。 At a given signal they all tie up their sheaves； and the one who is the last to finish is ridiculed by the rest。 Not only so； but her sheaf is made up into human shape and called the Old Man； and she must carry it home to the farmyard； where the harvesters dance in a circle round her and it。 Then they take the Old Man to the farmer and deliver it to him with the words； We bring the Old Man to the Master。 He may keep him till he gets a new one。 After that the Old Man is set up against a tree； where he remains for a long time； the butt of many jests。 At Aschbach in Bavaria； when the reaping is nearly finished； the reapers say； Now； we will drive out the Old Man。 Each of them sets himself to reap a patch of corn as fast as he can； he who cuts the last handful or the last stalk is greeted by the rest with an exulting cry； You have the Old Man。 Sometimes a black mask is fastened on the reaper's face and he is dressed in woman's clothes； or if the reaper is a woman； she is dressed in man's clothes。 A dance follows。 At the supper the Old Man gets twice as large a portion of the food as the others。 The proceedings are similar at threshing； the person who gives the last stroke is said to have the Old Man。 At the supper given to the threshers he has to eat out of the cream…ladle and to drink a great deal。 Moreover； he is quizzed and teased in all sorts of ways till he frees himself from further annoyance by treating the others to brandy or beer。
These examples illustrate the contests in reaping； threshing； and binding which take place amongst the harvesters； from their unwillingness to suffer the ridicule and discomfort incurred by the one who happens to finish his work last。 It will be remembered that the person who is last at reaping； binding； or threshing； is regarded as the representative of the corn…spirit； and this idea is more fully expressed by binding him or her in corn…stalks。 The latter custom has been already illustrated； but a few more instances may be added。 At Kloxin； near Stettin； the harvesters call out to the woman who binds the last sheaf； You have the Old Man； and must keep him。 As late as the first half of the nineteenth century the custom was to tie up the woman herself in pease…straw； and bring her with music to the farmhouse； where the harvesters danced with her till the pease…straw fell off。 In other villages round Stettin； when the last harvest…waggon is being loaded； there is a regular race amongst the women； each striving not to be last。 For she who places the last sheaf on the waggon is called the Old Man； and is completely swathed in corn…stalks； she is also decked with flowers； and flowers and a helmet of straw are placed on her head。 In solemn procession she carries the harvest…crown to the squire； over whose head she holds it while she utters a string of good wishes。 At the dance which follows； the Old Man has the right to choose his； or rather her； partner； it is an honour to dance with him。 At Gommern； near Magdeburg； the reaper who cuts the last ears of corn is often wrapt up in corn…stalks so completely that it is hard to see whether there is a man in the bundle or not。 Thus wrapt up he is taken by another stalwart reaper on his back； and carried round the field amidst the joyous cries of the harvesters。 At Neuhausen； near Merseburg； the person who binds the last sheaf is wrapt in ears of oats and saluted as the Oatsman； whereupon the others dance round him。 At Brie； Isle de France； the farmer himself is tied up in the first sheaf。 At Dingelstedt； in the district of Erfurt； down to the first half of the nineteenth century it was the custom to tie up a man in the last sheaf。 He was called the Old Man； and was brought home on the last waggon； amid huzzas and music。 On reaching the farmyard he was rolled round the barn and drenched with water。 At N？rdlingen in Bavaria the man who gives the last stroke at threshing is wrapt in straw and rolled on the threshing…floor。 In some parts of Oberpfalz； Bavaria； he is said to get the Old Man； is wrapt in straw； and carried to a neighbour who has not yet finished his threshing。 In Silesia the woman who binds the last sheaf has to submit to a good deal of horse…play。 She is pushed； knocked down； and tied up in the sheaf； after which she is called the corn…puppet （Kornpopel）。
In all these cases the idea is that the spirit of the cornthe Old Man of vegetationis driven out of the corn last cut or last threshed； and lives in the barn during the winter。 At sowing…time he goes out again to the fields to resume his activity as animating force among the sprouting corn。
II。 Passing to the second point of comparison between the Lityerses story and European harvest customs； we have now to see that in the latter the corn…spirit is often believed to be killed at reaping or threshing。 In the Romsdal and other parts of Norway； when the haymaking is over； the people say that the Old Hay…man has been killed。 In some parts of Bavaria the man who gives the last stroke at threshing is said to have killed the Corn…man； the Oats…man； or the Wheat…man； according to the crop。 In the Canton of Tillot； in Lorraine； at threshing the last corn the men keep time with their flails； calling out as they thresh； We are killing the Old Woman！ We are killing the Old Woman！ If there is an old woman in the house she is warned to save herself； or she will be struck dead。 Near Ragnit； in Lithuania； the last handful of corn is left standing by itself； with the words； The Old Woman （Boba） is sitting in there。 Then a young reaper whets his scythe and； with a strong sweep； cuts down the handful。 It is now said of him that he has cut off the Boba's head； and he receives a gratuity from the farmer and a jugful of water over his head from the farmer's wife。 According to another account； every Lithuanian reaper makes haste to finish his task； for the Old Rye…woman lives in the last stalks； and whoever cuts the last stalks kills the Old Rye…woman； and by killing her he brings trouble on himself。 In Wilkischken；