pfant/" aib Se)eatK porfeat/-. 199 



still to be found in Devonshire, where a belief exists that to 

 transplant Parsley is an offence against the guardian spirit who 

 watches over the Parsley-beds, surely to be punished, either by 

 misfortune or death, on the offender himself or some member of his 

 family within a year. 



In the Siebcnburgen of Saxony, the belief exists that at the 

 moment when an infant dies in the house, Death passes like a 

 shadow into the garden, and there plucks a flower. 



In Italy, the red Rose is considered to be an emblem of an 

 early death, and it is thought to be an evil omen if its leaves are 

 perchance scattered on the ground. An apt illustration of this 

 belief is found in the tragic story of poor Miss Ray, who was 

 murdered at the Piazza entrance of Covent Garden Theatre, by a 

 man named Hackman, on April 7th, 1779. Just prior to starting 

 with her friend Mrs. Lewis for the theatre, a beautiful Rose fell 

 from her bosom to the ground. She stooped to regain it, but at 

 her touch the red leaves scattered themselves on the carpet, 

 leaving the bare stalk in her hand. The unfortunate girl, who had 

 been depressed in spirits before, was evidently affected by the 

 incident, and said nervously, " I trust I am not to consider this as 

 an evil omen 1 " Soon rallying, however, she cheerfully asked 

 Mrs. Lewis to be sure and meet her after the theatre — a request 

 the fulfilment of which was prevented by her untimely fate 



Shakspeare has recorded that the withering of the Bay was 

 looked upon as a certain omen of death ; and it is an old fancy 

 that if a Fir-tree be struck, withered, or burnt with lightning, the 

 owner will soon after be seized with a mortal illness. 



Herrick, in his ' Hesperides,' alludes to the Daffodil as being 

 under certain circumstances a death portent. 



"When a Daffodill I see 

 Hanging down her head t'wards me, 

 Guess I may what I must be ; 

 First, I shall decline my head ; 

 Secondly, I shall be dead ; 

 Lastly, safely buried." 



In Northamptonshire, a belief exists that if an Apple-tree 

 blooms after the fruit is ripe, it surely portends death : — 



" A bloom upon the Apple-tree when the Apples are ripe, 

 Is a sure termination to somebody's life. " 



In Devonshire, it is considered very unlucky to plant a bed 

 of Lilies of the Valley, as the person who does this will in all 

 probability die before twelve months have expired ; and in the 

 same county, a plentiful season for Hazel-nuts is believed to por- 

 tend unusual mortality : hence the saying — 



" Many Nits [Nuts], 

 Many pits [graves]." 



