THE FEAST—According to custom, a large influx of visitors to this village took place the latter end of last week, and on Sunday the streets were, quite lively with visitors, although, owing to the threatening appearance of the weather, there were not so many people as we have seen in previous years; and, in consequence of the continued illness of the Rev. R. E. Bradfield, there was no temperance sermon on the Green on Sunday evening, as has been the custom for some years. Mr. C. Freeman conducted an open-air service in front of the Wheatsheaf Inn between six and seven o'clock, which was well attended, and listened to with attention. There were no special services at any of the places of worship. At the Church an anthem was sung, "In thee,'0 Lord, have I put my trust," and the Rev. J. T. Barker in the evening preached to a large congregation on "The origin, uses, and abuses of the Feast," and a collection towards the repair of the spire was made. On Monday the Green was filled with shows, stalls, and merry-go-rounds, and there were to be seen the "great head," the "wonderful ghost illusions," the "fat woman," the "large rat," and a number of other curiosities. Hundreds of persons were present.

THE FEAST—The feast was proclaimed this year by the usual flourish of trumpets on Saturday and all the village was astir to welcome the arrival of visitors, there being a rather larger contingent than in some previous years. The weather was very threatening during the evening. Sunday was finer and the streets were thronged with people. At the parish church the harvest festival was celebrated, the sacred edifice being made increasingly attractive by the chaste decoration. The altar had a large cross decorated with asters and roses which not only looked very nice, but emitted their fragrance all around; these were intermixed with ferns and grasses. Under the window were sunflowers, and on either side of the altar sheaves of wheat, and along the communion rail were placed bouquets and flowers. The base of the pulpit was surrounded by some very nice, maiden hair ferns and other greenhouse plants, up the rails of the chancel screens were runners of wheat and oat ears, relieved by dahlias. The rails at the transept screens were similarly treated, only instead of the dahlias were geranium blossoms. All round the whole of the screens were fringes of the ears of oats; in the window recesses were sheaves of corn; the gas jets were adorned by varigated leaves and corn. The font presented a very pleasing spectacle being covered by a veil of creepers relieved by coloured leaves. The decorations were the work of Mrs. and the Misses Barker and friends. The Rev. Mr. Hull, of Northampton, was announced to preach but was unable to attend, and the sermons were preached by the Rector. The church was full at the evening service when the choir sang the anthem "Blessed be the name of the Lord." The rev. gentleman took for his text the words "In everything give thanks," Thessalonians 5ch. 18v. He stated that in the morning he dealt with the question of whether a harvest festival was not out of place in such a season as that, and tried to show it was not, and in the evening he would consider a few questions arising from the festival. Had they deserved success by the spirit in which they had worked? Had they worked in a trustful, hopeful, generous, honest, and Godfearing spirit. Then there were the messages such a festival taught, and in passing he paid an eloquent tribute to the memory of President Garfield for the noble example he set of industry and resolution. The collections were to defray a debt of £9 due to the churchwardens on the church expenses account. In the morning £2 7s. was collected.

THE FEAST—Tuesday week last was the day selected by the several innkeepers of the village to entertain their friends and patrons, and Mr. J. Herbert, of the Wheat Sheaf, laid a most sumptuous spread before his friends, and 90 honoured him with their presence. After doing justice to the substantial viands Mr. E. Lewis was appointed chairman, and was ably assisted by Mr. Ward, and a social and convivial afternoon was spent in harmony and goodfellowship. Mr. Wood, of the Wagon and Horses, very ably catered for about 50 of his friends who did ample justice to the good things provided.

After lunch Mr. T. Childs was called upon to preside, and a social afternoon was spent. Mr. Ette, of the Feathers, also entertained 60 of his friends at lunch at the Feathers, and Mr. T. White presided over a very social party.—On Thursday a temperance sermon was preached in the Parish Church by the Rev. — Hayes, of Sumerhead, and on the same day a social tea and harvest meeting was held at the Succoth Baptist Chapel. In the evening a public tea and entertainment was held in the Temperance Hall for the benefit of the Temperance Society. At the entertainment, which consisted of songs, recitations, and selections by the band, the Rev. W. A. Davis presided, and in an opening address said he hoped they should have more of such meetings as that they then had, as he thought they had a tendency to bring them closer together, and created more zeal and harmony among the various members. The following programme was excellently rendered, the part-songs and quartets being quite a treat, ancl much appreciated by the audience. One feature we must specially notice, viz., a recitation by Master John Sargent, a lad five years old, grandson of the late Mr. J. Sargent, who was so popular an advocate of temperance. The proceedings were opened by the band (Messrs. W. and K. Skinner, J. Farey, and F. Knight) playing "Return of spring;" part-song by the choir (Mrs. and Misses Bull, the Misses Harris, and Miss E. Denton, Messrs. Stringer, Mackness, Sargent, Farey, and Elliott), "Life's success;" recitation, "To a glass of water," Mr. W. Clarke; song, "Thirty years ago," Mr. D. Crick; part-song, "Before the brewer's," choir; recitation, "I'm but a little boy," Master J. Sargent; reading, "Mrs. Gibson's smoking chimney," Mr. J. Sargent. Mr. E. Knight impressed on the young people the degrading tendency of smoking, remarking that recently he was recently in the finest cemetery he had ever visited, and as soon as you entered there was a board up "No smoking allowed;" duet, "No one cares for me," Miss M. Bull and Miss M. Harris; song, "Bay of Biscay," Mr. C. Stringer; recitation, "Give him back to us," Miss E. Colson; part-song, "Work away," choir; recitation, "A sketch from life," Mr. G. W. Button; song, Mr. J. Mackness; quartet, "The reaper's song," band; recitation, "Eternal Justice," Mr. W. Clarke; part-song, "The winning side," choir. The whole was much applauded, and the meeting concluded in the usual manner.—On Friday, at the National Schools, a public tea was provided, after which Mr. Mark Knowles addressed a meeting in the same place.—All the above meetings were well attended.

THE FEAST—The feast opened with much êclat on Saturday evening, and on Sunday the bells announced the fact by a peal at seven o'clock. The weather being fine the number of visitors far exceeded any previous year, judging from appearances in the streets. Harvest thanksgiving services were held in the Parish Church, which was very neatly adorned with creepers, flowers, evergreens, and ferns in pots, as well as fruit, and the general appearance was very chaste and neat. In the evening, when the Archdeacon of Northampton preached, the church was crowded in every part, chairs and seats having been placed in every available spot. An offertory was taken on behalf of the church expenses. The services are to be continued on Friday, when Lady Hope and some eminent men will be present.

THE FEAST—On Monday, in addition to the sports there was no lack of attractions, as the Green and the road in the neighbourhood were filled with stalls, swings, &c. The chief feature of the feast was the "sea on land," in Mr. Cox's orchard, and this was accompanied by peep shows, shooting galleries, aunt sallies, &c., the orchard being full. There was not much diminution of the amusements on Tuesday, but there was a large decrease in the visitors.—On Tuesday Mr. Wood entertained about 100 of his friends and customers to a splendid lunch. After lunch Mr. T. Childs presided and Mr. Richardson faced him, and the afternoon was spent in a convivial manner. A collection was made in the room for a working man who had had a severe illness, and a nice little sum was realised.—Also on the same day Mr. Eyte, of the "Feathers," entertained his customers, to the number of 60, to a capital lunch. After lunch Mr. A. Dickens presided, and some good songs were sung, and a pleasant afternoon spent.

CLOSE OF THE FEAST—On Saturday last, the Wellingborough Congregational Band was conveyed in a break to the bottom end of Rushden, where they were met at about three o'clock by the Rushden Temperance Band. They then marched and played together, conducted by Mr. Skinner, to the Cricket Ground on the Wymington-road, where local cricket and lawn tennis matches were played as a wind-up of the feast. The bands played some selections and also for dancing in the evening, but the rain somewhat marred the entertainment in the field. At about 6.15 the bands marched to the Public Hall, where, at seven o'clock, a public tea was provided, to which about 70 sat down. After tea the following programme was rendered:— Grand fantansia, "Honoria," band; song, "Hearts of Oak," W. Skinner; glee by four instruments, K. Skinner, T. Robinson, E. Clarke, and J. Abbott; song, "No one to love," Miss M. Bull; recitation, "King John and the Abbot of Canterbury," T. Everard; song, "Love at home," W. Skinner. The rest of the evening, until ten o'clock, was spent in games of various kinds. The Wellingborough band started home from the Coffee Tavern a few minutes after ten in the Rushden break.

Rushden Feast
This year the festivities in connection with Rushden Feast were similar in character to those of former years. On Saturday evening a good many visitors arrived, and on Sunday Rushden was visited by a large number from neighbouring villages and towns, and the evening congregations at most of the places of worship were considerably larger than usual. During the evening the publicans apparently came in for a large share of patronage. In the afternoon the temperance meeting on the Green was ramarkably well attended, and the addresses were listened to with close attention. On Monday the village was enlivened by a collection of stalls, shows, roundabouts, highflyers, and other amusements on the Green, and as the evening approached the thoroughfares were thronged. On Monday afternoon the special attraction was the programme of sports provided by the Rushden Cricket Club Committee, on the Wymington-road, when a fair number of spectators were present. The chilliness of the weather and the occasional downfalls of rain were powerful deterrents to a large company assembling.