Lowkers

" This garrulous class of mortals is usually composed of old women and children, who are employed in the spring to weed amonst the corn. The name is probability a corruption of Lookers, form their looking for the weeds, or from their great propencity to trifle and look for any thing else...... The work is done by hand only, and sometimes with tools.... It is perhaps unnecessary to add that these, in common with most other work people, require the frequent eye of the master. The owner of the field, who appears in the back ground on horseback, is no doubt fully aware of this."

Note: garrulous: given to constant, idle, trivial, tedius talking

from The Costume of Yorkshire, George Walker
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