This is a very important social duty and ought on no account to be omitted, as it entitles host and hostess to the help of all their guests in the event of illness or adversity taking place in their family. If, however, they do not conform to this social obligation, their neighbours and friends stand aloof, and do not so much as move a finger to help them. Should one of the family fall ill, the four nearest male neighbours are called in. These men fetch the doctor, and do all the nursing. They will even watch by the invalid at night, and so long as the illness lasts they undertake all the farm-work. Sometimes they will go on working the farm for years, and when a widow is left with young children in straitened circumstances, these 'Noodburen' ('neighbours in need') will help her in all possible ways, and take all the business and worry off her hands. [Illustration: Rommel Pot.] In case of a marriage, too, the neighbours do the greater part of the preparations. They invite the relations and friends to come to the wedding, and make ready the feast. The invitations are always given by word of mouth, and two young men[Footnote: In Gelderland we find this same custom and also in Friesland, but in this last-named province the invitation is given by two young girls.] nearly related to the bride and bridegroom are appointed to go round from house to house to bid the people come. They are dressed for this purpose in their best Sunday clothes, and wear artificial flowers and six peacock's feathers in their caps. The invitation is made in poetry, in which the assurance is conveyed that there will be plenty to eat and plenty of gin and beer to drink, and that whatever they may have omitted to say will be told by the bride and bridegroom at the feast. This verse in the native patois is very curious-- 'GOEN DAG! 'Daor stao'k op minen staf En weet niet wat ik zeggen mag, Nou hek me weer bedach En weet ik wat ik zeggen mag Hier sturt ons Gut yan Vente als brugom En Mientje Elschot as de brud, Ende' noget uwder ut Margen vrog on tien ur Op en tonne bier tiene twalevenne, Op en anker win, vif, zesse En en wanne vol rozimen. De zult by Venterboer verschinen Met de husgezeten En nums vergeten, Vrog kommen en late bliven Anders kun wy t nie 't op krigen Lustig ezongen, vrolik esprongen, Springen met de beide beene, En wat ik nog hebbe vergeten Zult ow de Brogom ende Brud verbeten. Hej my elk nuw wal verstaan Dan laot de fles um de taofel gaon 'GOOD DAY!