832 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



they see but another form of the word ' holy/ and its thorny foli- 

 age and blood-red berries are suggestive of the most Christian 

 associations." Then there is the rowan-tree or mountain-ash, 

 which has long been considered one of the most powerful anti- 

 dotes against works of darkness of every kind, probably from its 

 sacred associations with the worship of the Druids. Hence it is 

 much valued in Scotland, and the following couplet, of which 

 there are several versions, still embodies the popular faith : 



' Eowan-tree and red thread 

 Put the witches to their speed." 



But its fame has not been confined to any one locality, and as far 

 south as Cornwall the peasant, when he suspects that his cow has 

 been " overlooked," twists an ashen twig round its horns. Indeed, 

 so potent is the ash as a counter-charm to sorcery, that even the 

 smallest twig renders their actions impotent ; and hence, in an old 

 ballad entitled "Laidley Wood," in the "Northumberland Gar- 

 land," it is said : 



" The spells were vain, the hag returned 



To the queen in sorrowful mood, 

 Crying that witches have no power 



Where there is row'n-tree wood." 



Hence persons carry an ashen twig in their pocket, and according 

 to a Yorkshire proverb — 



" If your whipstick's made of row'n, 

 You may ride your nag through any town " ; 



but, on the other hand, " Woe to the lad without a rowan-tree 

 gall ! " Possessed of such virtues, it is not surprising that the 

 mystic ash should have been held in the highest repute, in illus- 

 tration of which we find many an amusing anecdote. Thus 

 according to a Herefordshire tradition, some years ago two hogs- 

 heads full of money were concealed in an underground cellar 

 belonging to the Castle of Penyard, where they were kept by 

 supernatural force. A farmer, however, made up his mind to get 

 them out, and employed for the purpose twenty steers to draw 

 down the iron door of the vault. On the door being slightly 

 opened, a jackdaw was seen sitting on one of the casks, but the 

 door immediately closed with a bang — a voice being heard to say : 

 " Had it not heen 



For your quicken-tree goad, 



And your yew-tree pin, 

 You and your cattle 



Had all been drawn in." 



Another anecdote current in Yorkshire is interesting, showing 

 how fully superstitions of this kind are believed : * " A woman 



* Henderson's "Folk-Lore of Northern Counties," 1879, p. 225. 



