198 RED DEER. 



upon a household without any apparent 

 cause ; but one day there was found in the 

 house an ancient sword with a gold hilt. 

 A younger member of the family, free from 

 the superstition of the elders, then confessed 

 that he had been digging over and exploring 

 a battle site, or ancient burial place, in the 

 district, and had discovered the sword, and 

 hidden it in the house for fear of displeasure. 

 Here at once was the cause of the trouble 

 that had visited them. 



The folk do not like banks ; they think 

 banks are unlucky, and say that the best 

 way is to have a stocking. Some money is 

 placed in a stocking, then the owner lias 

 to observe certain ceremonies, and to select 

 a secret spot, and there bury it. To this 

 secret store he adds from time to time 

 till the stocking can hold no more, and 

 in this way lays the foundation of pro- 

 sperity. Many declare that they never 

 thrived till they resorted to this plan of 

 having a magic stocking. 



