SFant bore, bege"?^/, and. "bijric/. 235 



In Henderson's 'Northern Folk-lore,' occur the following lines 

 regarding the virtues of even Ash-leaves : — 



"The even Ash-leaf in my left hand, 



'I'iie first man I meet shall be my husband. 



The even Ash-leaf in my glove, 



The first I meet shall be my love. 



The even Ash-leaf for my breast. 



The first man I meet's whom I love best. 



The even Ash-leaf in my hand, 



The first I meet shall be my man.", 

 "Even Ash, even Ash, I pluck thee, 



This night my true love for to see ; 



Neither in his rick nor in his rear. 



But in the clothes he does every day wear." 



It is a tradition among the gipsies that the cross our Saviour 

 was crucified upon was made of Ash. 



In Devonshire, it is customary to burn an Ashen faggot at 

 Christmastide, in commemoration of the fact that the Divine 

 Infant at Bethlehem was first washed and dressed by a fire of 

 Ash-wood. 



The Yule-clog or -log which ancient custom prescribes to be 

 burnt on Christmas Eve, used to be of Ash: thus we read in an 

 old poem: — 



" Thy welcome Eve, loved Christmas, now arrived, 



The parish bells their tuneful peals resound. 



And mirth and gladness every breast pervade. 



The ponderous Ashen-faggot, from the yard. 



The jolly farmer to his crowded hall 



Conveys with speed ; where, on the rising flames 



(Already fed with store of massy brands), 



It blazes soon; nine bandages it bears. 



And, as they each disjoin (so custom wills), 



A mighty jug of sparkling cider's brought 



With brandy mixt, to elrtvate the guests." 



Spenser speaks of the Ash as being "for nothing ill," but the tree 

 has always been regarded as a special attracftor of lightning, and 

 there is a very old couplet, which says: — 



"Avoid an Ash, 

 It courts the flash." 



Its characfter as an embodiment of fire is manifested in a remarkable 

 Swedish legend given in Grimm's 'German Mythology.' Some 

 seafaring people, it is said, received an Ash-tree from a giant, 

 with directions to set it upon the altar of a church he wished to 

 destroy. Instead, however, of carrying out his instrucftions, they 

 placed the Ash on the mound over a grave, which to their astonish- 

 ment instantly burst into flames. 



There is an old belief that to prevent pearls from being 

 discoloured, it is sufficient to keep them shut up with a piece of 

 Ash-root. 



Astrologers appear to be divided in their opinions as to 

 whether the Ash is under the dominion of the Sun or of Jupiter. 



