Folk-lore and legends: English

e as to where or by whom it was printed. It was

ts and liberties, insomuch that the gentry and civil magistrates of the country were in great danger, at which time the sheriff, by night, privately got into the house of Thomas Hic

e my brother" (meaning the tinker) "an

conducting them to the place of the rebels' rendezvous. When they came there, Tom and the tinker marched up to the head of

and by that alone w

it was, the tinker struck a tall man, just upon the nape of the neck, with that force that his head flew off and was carried violently fourteen feet from him, where it knocked down one of their chief ring-leaders,-Tom, on the other hand, still pressing forward, till by an unfortunate blow he broke his club. Yet he was not in the least dismayed, for he presently seized upon a lusty,

and the tinker, he was pleased to send for them to his palace, where a royal banquet was prepared for their enterta

aracter that hath been given to Thomas Hickathrift and Henry Nonsuch, persons here present, they cannot be matched in any other kingdom in the world. Were it possible to have an army of twenty thousand such as these, I d

drew, and Sir Thomas Hickathrift and Henry Nonsuch, the tinker, returned home, attended by many persons of quality some miles from the court. But, to the great

de his addresses, and, at the first coming, she seemed to show him much favour and countenance, but between this and his coming again she had given some entertainment to a more genteel and airy spark, who happened likewise to come while honest Tom was there the second time. He looke

come you, and if you do not mend your manners y

uestion but to make a fool of Tom in a trice. Into the yard they both walk together, the young

nothing to defend yourself? Well

into the air, from whence he fell upon the ridge of a thatched house, and then came down into a large fish-pond, and had been certainly drowned if it had not been for a poo

speedy revenge, and knowing that he was not able to cope with a man of Tom's strength and activity, he, therefore, hired two lusty trooper

e you, indeed, weary of the world that you so unadvisedly

, said that they were not to

arm, horse and men, with as much ease as if they had been but a couple of baker's babbins, steering his course with them hastily tow

e runs away with two o

t his house and habitation. This was such a dreadful lecture to them that the poor rogues begged that he would be merciful and spare their lives, and they would discover the whole plot, and who was the pe

of marriage was accordingly appointed, and friends and relations invited, yet secret malice, which is never satisfied without sweet revenge, had like to have prevented the solemnity, for, having three miles to go to church, where they were to be married, the aforesaid gentleman had provided a second time Russians in armour, to the number of twenty-one, he himself being then presen

and I will show y

at their legs and arms, he lopped them off so fast that, in less than a quarter of an hour, there was not one in the company but what had lost a limb, the green grass being stained with their purple gore, and the gr

s has he made, as it were

y drop of blood that I lost, I have made t

ples home to their respective habitations in his cart. Then did he hasten with his love to the church to be married,

time of feasting was ended, a silver cup was missing, and, being asked about it, they every one denied they knew anything about it. At length it was agreed that they should all stand the search, which they did, and the cup was found on a certain old woman, named the widow Stumbelow. Then were all the rest in a rage. Some were for hanging her, others were for chopping the old wom

mmons of Kent who were come thither to complain of a dreadful giant that was landed in one of the islands, and brought with him abundance of bears and young lions, likewise a dreadful dragon, on which he himself rode, which monster and ravenous beasts had frightened all the inhabitants out of the island. Moreover, they said,

d by a hundred knights and gentlemen, who conducted him to the entrance of the island which he was to govern. A castle in those days there was, in which he was to take up his head-quarters, the same being situated with that advantage that he could view the island for several miles upon occasion. The knights and gentlemen, at last taking their leave of him, wished him all happy success and prosperity. Many days he had not been there when it was his fortune to behold this monstrous giant, mounted upon a dreadful dragon, bearing upon his shoulder a club of iron, having but one eye, the which was placed in his forehead, and larger in compass than a barber's basin, and seemed to appear like a flaming fire. His visage was dreadful, grim and tawny; the hair of hi

, I shall spoil your sport, for I have a

with,-taking this, I say, down he went, and flinging open the gates, he there found the giant, who, b

e here to take up your lodging

e, without any further discourse, with four blows with his two-handed sword, he cut off his head also. This fortunate adventure being over, he sent immediately for a team of horses and a wagon, which he loaded with these heads. Then, summoning all the constables in the country for a guard, he sent them to the court, with a promise to his majesty that he would rid the whole island likewise of bears and lions before he left it. Tom's victories rang

take my fortune with you, hoping that I

rt, for I must needs acknowledge I

ker, these ravenous beasts began to roar and run furiously, as if they would have devoured them at a mouthful. Tom and the tinker stood, side by side, with their backs against an oak, and as the lions and bears came within their reach, Tom, with his long sword, clove their heads asunder till they were all destroyed, saving one lion who, seeing the rest

loss of his old friend. Home he returned to his lady, where, in token of joy for the wonderful success which he had in his dangerous enterprise

hile I have st

ully I wi

, till I cl

bears, and

ind true, or

emain up

ift's most g

et has brok

does his c

much from th

ieved them

on record s

friends, who

t Tom for

inds and thou

pleased you

ECTRE

by a grandson of his, "had an effect on him from that day to this"-though the "this" in the present case is of a somewhat vague meaning, seeing that Tom has unfortunately been dead some twenty years at

igence that a sister of his, who was in service in a town some little distance away, was ill and wished to see him. The little cobbler was a man with a warm heart, and as soon as he received this ill news he laid aside a pair of shoes he was on for the parson, and which he was very anxious to finish, for the sooner he to

imes of it; he, in the course of the morning, with a slice out of the afternoon, arrived at his destination. There, thank God, he found his sister much better than he might have expected

urage-he had a good stout stick to defend himself with. Still it was dismal work that tramp through lonely lanes, with the trees standing on each side-not bright and lively as they had been in the day-time, with the sun shining on their leaves, and the wind rustling amongst them, but drawn up, still and dark, like sentinels watching in b

elf in quarters where the very trees and gates and stiles seemed, as it were, to be old friends-Tom having been used to the sig

came to a dead stand. What was it that he heard? It seemed like a rushing and grinding of stones, with a cracking like a body of men walking over dry sticks. It could not be the wind, for there was not a breath stirring, and the leaves on the trees lay perfectly still. The noise came nearer and nearer, and the next thought of Tom was that he would like to hide himself in some of the dark shadows around him. But his le

rses, and then a carriage drawn by four large steeds, while two men rode behind. They were all goodly looking men enough, and the horses were, as Tom saw at a glance, as pretty pieces of flesh as any man might wish to throw leg across, but one thing struck horror to the cobbler's heart as he looked, for he saw that none of the horsemen had a head on him.

be lighted up in some mysterious manner, and inside, Tom said, he clearly saw a gentleman and a lady, f

with no better prop than a stick in his hand? He looked at the gates. They were closed and fast. He looked down the road, but could distinguish noth

self by pretending that he had seen what no one else of those he told the story to had set eyes on, yet the old folk remembered that they themselves had spoken with folk who had seen

ER'S DA

a baker who used to sell bread to all the folk around. He was a mean, greedy man, who sought in every wa

with him, and seeing how her father treated the people, and how he succeeded

, and the girl remained alone in

ive me a bit of dough I beg of

go, and begged harder than before for a piece of bread, at last the b

f, and do not tro

a piece of dough, let me bake it in your oven,

e dough, she placed it in the oven, while the

to find there a small cake, and was very much amazed to find instead a very large

d she. "It must have tumbled

ive me another piece of dough inste

having put it in the oven, shut to the door. At the end of a few minutes or

ook about her, "I have surely lost t

n, "but never mind. I will wait

t it in the oven, while the old woman sat near. When she thought it ought to be bak

ne," said t

ld such a large loaf have grown

it is sure,"

the girl, "and you

the baker's daughter had put upon her, she draws out from under her cloak a stick, and just touches the girl with it. Then a wonderful thing occurred, for the g

IRY CH

ph of Coggeshall, "happened in Suff

of all their limbs like to those of other men, but they were different in the colour of their skin from all the people of

gth when some beans, just cut, with their stalks, were brought into the house, they made signs, with great avidity, that they should be given to them. When they were brought they opened the stalks instead of the pods, thinking the beans were in the hollow of them. But not finding them t

olour, and gradually recovered the sanguine habit of her entire body. She was afterwards regenerated by the laver of ho

boy, she replied, that, as they were following their flocks, they came to a certain cavern, on entering which they heard a delightful sound of bells, ravished by whose sweetness they went on for a long time wandering on through the cavern, until they came to its mouth. When they came out of

les from Bury-St.-Edmund's. They came in harvest-time out of the Wolf-pits. They both lost their green hue, and were baptized, and learned English. The boy, who was the younger, died, but the girl married a man at Lenna, and lived many years. They said their country w

OF JACK AND

Paisley, by G. Caldwell, bo

woman whose cottage was situated in a remote c

that Jack did not pay the least attention to anything she said, but was indolent, careless, and extravagant. His follies were not owing to a

s. Her distress was great, and, for the first time in

Cruel, cruel boy! I have not money enough to purchase even a bit of bread for another day. Nothing now r

oon over, and he began teasing his mother to let him sell the

butcher, who, knowing Jack's easy temper, thought now was the time to take advantage of it, and, determined not to let slip so good an opportunity, asked what was the price of the cow, offering at the same time all the beans in his hat for her. The silly boy could no

She kicked the beans away in a passion-they flew in all directions-some were scat

rs into the garden, where he soon discovered that some of the beans had taken root and sprung up surprisingly. The s

med the resolution of endeavouring to climb up to the top in order to seek his fortune, and ran to communicate his intention to his mother, not doubting but

e found himself in a strange country. It appeared to be a desert, quite barren, not a tree, shrub, house, or living creature to be

his mother. He reflected with sorrow on his disobedience in climbing t

man appeared at a distance. As she approached Jack could not help admiring how beautiful and lively she looked. She was d

his father. He replied he did not, and added there must be some mystery relating to him, because if he asked his mother who his father was she always burst into tears and appeared to be violently agitated, nor did she recover herself for some days after.

g woman

in I require a solemn promise on your part to do what I command. I am a fair

promised to fulfil her injunctions exa

He always presided himself, and did all in his power to render his guests comfortable. The rich and the great were next invited. The servants were all happy and greatly attached to their master and mistress. Your father, though only a private gentleman, was as rich as a prince, and he deserved all he possessed, fo

ported that he was a gentleman who had just lost all he possessed by an earthquake and had found it difficult to escape with his life. His wife was with him. Your father gave credit to his story and pitied hi

as at some distance from the sea-shore, but with a glass the coast could be seen distinctly. The giant was one day using the telescope; the wind was very high, and he saw a fleet of

ally was so. Your father recommended a favourite book, and was handing it down, when the giant, taking the opportunity, stabbed him, and he instantly fell

but how was she shocked on discovering your father dead. She was stupefied with horror and grief, and was motionless. The giant, who was seeking her, found her in th

both of you to death in the most cruel manner. Your mother took you in her arms and fled as quickly as possible. She was scarcely gone when the giant repented he had suffered her to escape. He would have pursued her instantly, but he had to provide for his own safety, as it was necess

s scene of desolation. Fear added to her haste. She settled in the cottage where you were brought

ortals. A short time before the giant went to your father's I transgressed. My punishment was a suspension

your mother's cow, my power was restored. It was I who secr

ight and formed a ladder. I need not add I inspi

dness. You will have dangers and difficulties to encounter, but you must persevere in avenging the

is yours though now you are unjustly deprived of it. One thing I desire. Do not let

emy lives. While you do as I order you I will protect and guard you, but, reme

oy, he espied a large mansion. This agreeable sight revived his drooping spirits, and he redoubled his speed, and soon reached the ho

well known her husband was a large and very powerful giant, and that he would never eat anything but human flesh, if he could poss

e woman to take him in for one night only, and hide him where she thought proper. The good woman at last suffer

y then passed through several spacious rooms, all in the same styl

n one side there was a grating of iron which parted off a dismal dungeon, from whence issued the gro

to fear that he should never see her more, and gave himself up for lost. He even mistrusted the good woman, and thoug

m plenty to eat and drink. Jack, not seeing anything here to make him uncomfortable, soon forgot his fear, and was just beginning to enjoy himself when he was aro

st her in a voice l

smell fre

he, "it is nothing but t

very kitchen where poor Jack was concealed, who shook

astonished to see what an amazing quantity he devoured, and thought he would never have done eating and drinking. When supper was ended the giant desired his wife to bring him his hen. A very beaut

l asleep by the fireside and snored like the roaring of a cannon. At daybreak Jack, finding the giant still asl

his way to the beanstalk and descended it better and quicker than he had expected. His mother was overjoyed to see him. He f

his hen, and inform his m

l make us rich, and I hope to make some amends for the affliction

which Jack and his mother sold, and so in a little t

ansion, while he lay concealed in the oven, he learned, from the conversation that took place between the giant and his wife, that he possessed some wonderful curiosities. Jack thought of his journey again and again, but still he could not summon resolution enough to break it to his mother, being well assured she would endeavour to prevent his going. However, one day he told he

as resolved to go at all events. He had a dress prepared which would disguise him, and somethi

xion, and, unperceived by any one, climbed the beanstalk a second ti

late in the evening, and found the woman at the door as before. Jack addressed her, at the same time tellin

, hungry, friendless boy, who was half dead with travelling, and that the ungrateful fellow had stolen one of the giant's treasures, ever si

t of a story in which he was the principal actor. He did his best t

the kitchen, and after he had done eating and drinking, she hid him in an old lumber closet. The giant returned at the usual tim

smell fre

hich had brought a piece of raw meat

p his hand to strike his wife for not being quick enough, but she was always so fortunate as to

le, went to another apartment and brought from

supper and eaten till he was qui

o amuse me, either my ba

two bags into the room. They were of a very large size. One was filled with new guineas, and the other with new shillings. They were placed before the giant, who began reprimanding his poor wife most severely for staying

to strike her, but she escaped and went to bed, leav

ilver was emptied, and the contents placed upon the table. Jack viewed the glittering heaps with delight, and most heartily wished them in his own possession. The giant (little thin

delighted must he have felt when he saw such a heap of glittering gold? He even had the boldness to think of gaining both bags, but,

cure. He stole out of his hiding-place and approached the giant, in order to carry off the two bags of money. Just as he laid his hand upon one of the bags a little dog, which he had not observed before, started from under the giant's chair and barked at Jack most furiously, who now gave himself up for lost. Fear rivetted him to the spot, and instead of endeavouring to escap

hem over his shoulders, ran out of the kitchen. He reached the street-door in safety, and found it quite daylight. On his way to the top of th

To his great surprise the cottage was deserted. He ran from one room to another without being able to find any one.

ill of a fever. He was greatly shocked on finding her apparently dying, and co

d, and gradually recovered. Jack presented her his two valuable bags, and t

it, though he feared making his mother unhappy. She would not mention the h

is disobedience were ever present to his mind and prevented him from being happy. He could think of nothing else. It was in vain he en

is inclination grew too powerful for him, he began to make secret preparations for his journey, and, on the longest day, arose as soon as it was light, ascended the beanstalk, and reached the top with some little trouble. He found the road, journey, etc., much as it was on the two former times. He arrived at the giant's mansion in the even

ant returne

room. Whilst this was going forward Jack was exceedingly terrified, and ready to die with fear, wishing himself at home a thousand times, but when the giant approached the c

e to fetch down his harp. Jack peeped under the copper lid and soon saw the most beau

The music was uncommonly fine. Jack was delighted, and felt more anxious

he time to carry off the harp. As the giant appeared to be in a more profound sleep than usual, Jack, soon determine

er, m

ttle time, the giant recovered sufficiently to walk slowly, or rather, to reel after him. Had he been sober he must have overtaken Jack instantly, but as

nstant the giant was beginning to descend, but Jack with his hatchet cut the beanstalk close off at the root, which

the journeys up the beanstalk. The fairy then charged Jack to be dutiful to his mother, and to follow his father's good example, which was the only way to be happy. She then disapp

REED'

front paws on the handle trying like a Christian to open the door, and mewling in a manner that's almost like talking. He's a London cat, he is, being brought me by a cousin who lives there, and is called Gilpin, after,

d? and what was there r

may not believe it in these days when the Bible's not gospel enough for some of them. I've heard my father often tell the story, and

ks which all cats play at times, and which seem born in the blood of the creatures. It was all black except one white paw, and seemed as honest and decent a beast as could be, and Tom would as soon ha

with him some years when

he had to stop working at it by the light of a lantern to have it ready for the next day's burying. Well, having finished his work, and having put his tools in the shed in a corner of the yar

a lot of little gleaming fires dancing about, while some stood steady, just like flashes of light from little windows in buildings all on fire insid

d with that he walks straight up to the gate, while the shad

but nine black cats, some sitting and some dancing about, and the lights were the flas

never a cat sti

ut him for a stone, which was not to be found, the night being dark

nny R

s he, 'who's

d,' says the

ing no one, for no one was about 'tis true. 'Was it one of

as plain as ever Christian spoke. 'It's

d he didn't know what it might lead to exactly. So he takes off his hat to the cat, thinking that it was, perhaps, best to show it

ays he, 'what c

but it's better it'll be with you if you do what I t

s he knew no more than the dead. Well, with that all the cats vanished, and Johnny, running the rest

fe, the first words he sp

r heard of him, and don't know ther

he, 'but I must find

cat sits there in front of the fire looking as snug and comfortable as a cat could be, and nearly half-asleep, but when Johnn

be here;' and with that it springs through the door and

n ever find Dan Ra

person, though Johnny looked long enough, thinking it might be the worse for him i

the meaning of t

t the way he acted, and no other of the name being known. Who Peggy Poyson was no one could tell, but likely enough it was some relative of the cat

E M

a bucket of fair water, which they placed for the accommodation of those little beings every night in the chimney-corner before they went to bed. Once, however, it was forgotten; and the pixies, finding

d "That, for her part, she would not stir out of bed to please all the pixies in Devonshire." The good-humoured damsel, however, got up, filled the bucket, and was rewarded by a handful of silver pennies found in it the next morning. B

a punishment for a pretty young woman. So, tempering mercy with justice, the pixies were kind enough to let her off with a lame leg, which was so to continue only for seven years, and was alone to be cured by a certain herb,

er own name, and very possibly felt much more anxious about retaining the one than the other. At length she dropped asleep, and did not wake till the morning. Now, whether her head might be like a sieve, that lets out as fast as it takes in, or whether the over-exertion to remember caused her to for

, and came tumbling, head over heels, towards her. He insisted on striking her leg with a plant which he held in his hand. From that moment she got well,

MAN OF T

ok for water, and, after stooping to drink, was surprised, on lifting his head again, by the appearance of a brown dwarf, who stood on a crag covered with brackens across the burn. This extraordinary personage did not appear to be above half the stature of a common man, but was

than such an offer, as he considered the wild animals as his subjects, and never failed to avenge their destruction. He condescended further to inform the young man that he was, like himself, mortal, though of years far exceeding the lot of common humanity, and that he hoped for salvation. He never, he added, fed on anything that had life, but lived in the summer on whortle berries, and in winter on nuts and apples, of which he had gr

monition, and to sport over the moors on his way homewards, but soon af

BLER CHEATE

, whether the people were better or were worse than he expected to find them, whether they would not give way to him, or whether they went beyond him and outwitted him, I don't know, and so cannot say; but sure it is that in a short while he became terribly angry with the folk, and at length was so disgusted that he threatened he would make t

young, should come to deliver their opinion as to the best course to be pursued, on

med them that their enemy was coming, for he had himself seen him making his way to the town, bearing on his shoulder a stone almost big enoug

e amongst them a poor cobbler, whom they had forgot to call to t

him," said he, "and

hey all; "it's mad you

and without saying a word more he goes out

on, and inquired of him the way he should go to meet him. The man told him the road, and the cobbler set out. He walked, and walked, and walked, till at last he came to the d

place?" asks he of the man, n

eing I have lived in its neighbourhood these many

ere?" asked the devil anxiously, for he ha

dle of old boots that he had ready,-"see here," says he, "these are th

in holes and shreds. "Well, indeed, it must be a long way off," and he looks around him, and then at the rock, and thinks what a terribl

d I would have shown them what it is to treat me as they did, but as it's

ll the townsfolk what he had done, and how he had cheated the devil, and I can assure you that they all admired his clever

VISTOC

ed out the hare pursued, often seen but never caught, a sportsman of the party began to suspect "that the devil was in the dance," and there would be no end to it. The matter was discussed, a justice consulted, and a clergyman to boot, and it was thought that however clever the devil might be, law and church combined would be more than a match for him. It was therefore agreed that, as the bo

h, now a hare, and her little colleague in iniquity, did not expect so very speedy a turn out, so that the gam

, run; run f

train, lent a hand to break open the door, but could not do it till the parson and the justice came up, but as law and church were certainly designed to break through iniquity, even so did they now succeed in bu

, "and let us see what they take her to

nd the huntsman, having long practised amongst the hounds, now tried his hand on their game. Thus the old woman escaped a worse fate for the time being, but on being afterwards p

RM OF

was fishing on a Sunday, and threw his line into the river to catch fish, at a time when all good men should have been engaged in the solemn observance of the day. After having toiled in vain for

e hope of catching a large fish, he drew it up with the utmost skill and

nd that he had only caught a worm of most unseemly and disgusting appear

ued to fish, when a stranger of venera

t sp

ch he

vil;" and directed the inqu

n the like of it before-that it was like an eft, but that it

ly lay in the day-time coiled round a rock in the middle of the river, and at night frequented a neighbouring hill, twin

lambs, sucking the cow's milk, and committing every spe

f the river, crossed the stream towards Lambton Hall, where the old lord was then living in grief and sorrow,

great experience, that the large trough which stood in the courtyard should be filled with milk. The monster approa

to be provided was soon found to be the product of nine cows, and if any portion short of this quantity was neglected or forgotten

though the worm had been frequently cut asunder, yet the several parts had immediately reunited, and the valiant assailant never escaped without the loss of life or limb, so that

rd the wailings of the people, for their hearts were filled with terror and alarm. He hastened to the hall of his ancestors, and received the embraces of his aged father, worn

he hill, and being a knight of tried valour and sound discretion, and hearing the fate of all those w

hat he must have his best suit of mail studded with spear-blades, and, taking his stand on the rock in the middle of the river, commend himself to Providence and the might of his swor

the sharpest spears. He took his stand on the rock in the middle of the river, and unsheathing his tr

t sometimes reposed. The knight, nothing dismayed, struck the monster on the head with all his might and main, but without producing any other visible effect tha

the more closely he was pressed by the worm, the more deadly were the wou

ood use of his sword that he cut the monster in two. The severed part was immediately carried away by the current, and the worm, being t

romise, blew a blast on his bugle to assure his father of his safety, and that he might let loose his favourite hound which was d

arm against his parent, but, hoping that his vow might be accomplished, and the curse

e more drew his sword, still reeking with the gore of the monster, and plunged it into the heart of his faithful companion.

AND THE CROO

ng her house, and she f

th this sixpence? I will go to t

a stile. Now the pig would not go over the stile.

ggy won't go over the stile, a

pig. The woman went on a litt

n't bite pig, piggy won't go over st

he woman went on a little

at dog, dog won't bite pig, piggy won't go ov

woman went on a little fur

fire. Fire won't burn stick

he woman went on a little

nk water. Water won'

he woman went on again,

, "kill ox. Ox won'

The woman went on a littl

ang butcher. Butcher

. Again the woman went

naw rope. Rope won'

he woman went on a littl

kill rat. Rat won'

he rat if you will fetch me a basi

ow and asked her to let her

have no milk unless you bring me a

he hay and gave it to the cow. Then the cow gave h

egan to kill the ox, the ox began to drink the water, the water began to quench the fire, the fire began to burn the stick, the stick began to bea

KSHIRE

ly than that of the maltreatment of his offspring, the feelings of the father, and more particularly of his good dame, were daily, ay, and nightly, harrowed up by the malice of this malignant and invisible boggart (a boggart is seldom visible to the human eye, though it is frequently seen by cattle, particularly by horses, and then they are said to "take the boggle," a Yorkshireism for a shying horse). The

ising precision at the head of the child. It was found that as often as the horn was replaced in the hole, so surely it was ejected with a straight aim at the offender's head. Time at length made familiar this wonderful occurrence, and that which at the first was regarded with terror, became at length a kind of amusement with the more thoughtless and daring of the family. Often was the horn slipped slyly into the hole, and the boggart never failed to dart it out at the head of one or the other, but most commonly he or she who placed it there was the

as of a human being, would press them nearly to suffocation. They would then scream out for their "daddy" and "mammy," who occupied the adjoining room, and thus the whole family was di

y, the last load of furniture, when they met a neighbouring farmer, whose name was J

oa you're leaving t'

r rest neet nor day for't. It seems loike to have such a malice again't poor bairns. It om

t when, behold! a shrill voice, fro

e, we 're flit

irrid a peg. Nay, nay, it's to na use, Mally," turning to his wife, "we may as weel t

afterwards came to a better understanding, though it long

DUER

ous elves, are said to have taken place on Simonside Hills, a mo

to amuse himself with the pranks of these mysterious beings.

ad been excavated, and which was now filled with mud and water. Into this he threw a piece of turf which he raised at his feet, and when the sound of the splash echoed throughout the surrounding stillness, the decoying light was exting

t! t

und him, each with a torch in one hand and a short club in the other, which they brandished with such gestures, as if they were resolved to oppose his flight, and drive him back into the morass. Like a knight of romance he charged with his oaken staff the foremost of his foes, striking them, as it seemed, to the earth, for they disappeared, but his offensive weapon encounter

igher than his knee, came waddling in at the door, and took possession of the other. The traveller, being acquainted with the manner in which things of this description ought to be regarded, retained his self-possession, kept his seat, and remained silent, knowing that if he rose up or spoke, his danger would be redoubled, and as the flame blazed up he examined minutely the hollow eyes, the stern vindictive features, and the short, strong limbs of the visitor before him. By degrees he perceived that the hut afforded little or no shelter from the cold night air, and as the energy of the fire subsided he lifted from the floor a piece of wood, broke it over his knee, and laid the fragments upon the red-hot embers. Whether this operation was regarded by his strange neighbour as

ARN E

t, he laid his sheaves on the threshing floor, for the application of the morning's flail, when morning came all wa

imagined. They immediately began their gambols among the straw, which was soon in the most admired disorder. Hodge wondered, but interfered not, but at last the supernatural thieves began to busy themselves in a way still less to his taste, for each elf set about conveying the crop away, a straw at a time, with astonishing

eat?" (I sweat

himself no longer. H

at ye! Let me

frightened that they never

OF KIN

erranean passage. Full in the faith that the entrance into King Arthur's hall was now discovered, he cleared the briary portal of its weeds and rubbish, and entering a vaulted passage, followed, in his darkling way, the web of his clew. The floor was infested with toads and lizards, and the dark wings of bats, disturbed by his unhallowed intrusion, flitted fearfully around him. At length his sinking faith was strengthened by a dim, distant light, which, as he advanced, grew gradually lighter, till, all at once, he entered a vast and vaulted hall, in the centre of which a fire without fuel, from a broad crevice in the floor, blazed with a high and lambent flame, that showed all the carved wal

tide that

s witless wi

e sword-the

blew the b

nd the farmer was unable to give any correct account of his adventure, or the place where it occurred. All agree that Mrs. Spearman, the wife of another and more recent occupier of the estate

state" than the preceding, and has evidently sprung from a base

ensive scale. Two hounds lay couchant on either side of the fire-place, in the stillness of unbroken slumber. The only remarkable piece of furniture in the apartment was a table covered with green cloth. At the head of the table, a being, considerably advanced in years, of a dignified mien, and clad in the habiliments of war, sat, as it were, fast asleep, in an arm-chair. At the other end of the table lay a horn and a sword. Notwithstanding these signs of life, there prevailed a dead silence throughout the chamber, the very feeling of which made the shepherd reflect that he had advanced far beyond the limits of human experience, and that he was now in the presence of objects that belonged more to death than to life. The very idea made his flesh creep. He, however, had sufficient fortitude to advance to the table and lift the horn. The hounds pricked up their ears most fearfully, and the grisly veteran started up on his elbow, and raising his half-unwilling eyes, told the staggered hind that if he would blow the horn and draw the sword, he would confer upon him the honours of knighthood to last

y cons

from his nati

neces

LK

me it had obtained from its manifesting a marked predilection to make itself visible in the semblance of a female dressed in silk. Many a time, when one of the more timorous of the community had a night journey to perform, have they unawares and invisibly been dogged and watched by this spectral tormentor, who, at the dreariest part of the road-the most suitable for thrilling surprises-would suddenly break forth in dazzl

at wondrous agency, he would hear the howling of a resistless tempest rushing through the woodland-the branches creaking in violent concussion, or rent into pieces by the impetuous fury of the blast-while, to the eye, not a leaf was seen to quiver, or a pensile spray to bend. The bottom of this crag is washed by a picturesque lake or fish-pond, at whose outlet is a waterfall, over which a venerable tree, sweeping its leafy arms, adds impressiveness to the scene. Amid the complicated and contorted limbs of this tree, Silky possessed a rude chair, where she was wont, in her moody moments, to sit-wind-rocked-enjoying the rustling of the storm in the dark woods, or the

which, it is satisfactory to learn, was of unfailing efficacy. One poor wight, a farm-servant, was once the selected victim of her mischievous frolics. He had to go to a colliery at some distance for coals, and it was late in the evening before he could return. Silky, with spirit-like prescience, having intimation of the circumstance, waylaid him at a bridge-a "ghastly, ghost-alluring edifice," since called "Silky's Brig," lying a little to the south of Black Heddon, on the road between that place and Stamfordham. Just as he had arrived at "the height of that bad eminence," the keystone, horses and cart became fixed and immovable as fate. In that melancholy plight might both man and horses have continued-quaking, and sweating, and paralysed-till the morning light had thrown around them its mantle of protec

st, a perpetual latent hankering for mischief, and gloried in withering surprises and unforeseen movements. As is customary with that "sturdy fairy," as she is designated by the great English Lexicographer, her works were performed at night, or between the hours of sunset and day-dawn. If the good old dames had thoroughly cleaned their houses, which country people make a practice of doing, especially on Satur

ome person, who had died very miserable, in consequence of having great treasure, which, before being taken by her mortal agony, had not been disclosed, and on that account Silky could not rest in her grave. About the period referred to a domestic female servant being alone in one of the rooms of a house in Bla

The deevil's in the house! H

iderable time elapsed before any one could brace up courage to face the enemy, or be prevailed on to go and inspect the cause of their alarm. At last the mistress, who chanced to be the most stout-hearted, vent

n. Her destiny was accomplished, her spirit

A. Constable, Prin

burgh Unive

RIBER'

d punctuation err

k cover image using the title page of the origin