3l8 pfaat "bore, Tscgc'r^/, cmeL "bijrie/". 



the Eglantine flower and bud, have given rise to the following 

 rhymed riddle : — 



" Of us five brothers at the same time born, 

 Two from our birthday ever beards have worn ; 

 On other two none ever have appeared, 

 While the fifth brother wears but half a beard." 



ELDER. — The Elder or Elian-tree (Sfl?K^wc«5), in Scandinavian 

 mythology, was consecrated to Hulda, the goddess of love, and to 

 Thor, the god of Thunder, and is connecfted with many ancient 

 Northern superstitions. 



The Danes believe that in the Elder there dwells a being known 

 as the Hylde-moer (Elder-mother) or Hylde-qvinde (Elder-woman), 

 by whom all injuries done to the Elder are avenged. In a small 

 court in the Nybonder, a districft of Copenhagen, there stands a 

 weird tree, which at dusk is reputed to move up and down the 

 passage, and sometimes to peep through the windows at the 

 children. It is not deemed advisable to have furniture made of 

 Elder-wood. Tradition says that a child having been laid in a 

 cradle made of Elder-wood, the Hylde-moer came and pulled it by 

 the legs, nor would she let it have any rest until it was taken out 

 of the cradle. A peasant once heard his children crying in the 

 night, and on inquiring the cause, was told that some one had been 

 there and sucked them; and their breasts were found to be swollen. 

 This annoyance was believed to have arisen from the fadt that the 

 room was boarded with Elder. The Elder branches may not be 

 cut until permission has been asked in the words, " Hylde-moer, 

 Hylde-moer, allow me to cut thy branches." Then, if no objecftion 

 be made by the spirit of the tree, the hewer proceeds, taking care 

 first to spit three times, as a precaution against molestation. In 

 Denmark, it is believed that he who stands under an Elder-bush 

 at twelve o'clock on Midsummer Eve, will see Toly, the king of 

 the elves, go by with all his train. Perhaps on accoimt of the 

 supernatural halo surrounding it, the Elder was regarded as a cure 

 for various diseases. A Danish formula prescribes the taking of 

 an Elder-twig by a person afflicfted with toothache, who must first 

 put it in his mouth, and then stick it in the wall, saying, " Depart 

 thou evil spirit." Ague may be cured by taking a twig of Elder, 

 and sticking it in the ground, without speaking a word; the disease 

 will then pass into the twig, and attach itself to the first person 

 who approaches the spot. 



In Russia, there is a belief that Elder-trees drive away bad 

 and malignant spirits, out of compassion to humanity, and that 

 they promote long life. 



In Sweden, women about to become mothers kiss the Elder ; 

 and it is thought that no one can damage the tree with impunity. 



In Germany, the Elder is regarded with great respect. From 

 its leaves a febrifuge is made : from its berries a sort of sour pre- 

 serve, and a wonder-working electuary ; the moon-shaped clusters 



