THE SEAL. 



37 



buried their heads in the bed- coverings. When morning 

 broke, the door was opened and the seal was there lying 

 dead upon the threshold !" 



*' Stop, Julius !" I exclaimed, " give me a moment's time 

 to curse all concerned in this barbarism." 



" Be patient, Frank," said my cousin, " the finale will 



in the family is always harbingered by the lamentations of the ill-omened 

 attache. The sex of the banshee is usually feminine ; but I knew one 

 instance where a male familiar attended on an old house, and was known 

 by the title of the " Far-a-crick." The banshee was contented with 

 frightening the family she patronised with her laments ; but the Far-a-crick 

 was a more troublesome neighbour. On one occasion he beat severely 

 a drunken servant who was belated returning from a fair and a quarter 

 of mutton, which the unhappy man was bringing home, confirmed the 

 story, for after the " Hill man's" assault, it was found to be as black as 

 the ribs of the unfortunate sufferer. 



The appearance of the banshee is variously described as she some- 

 times assumes the form of " a little wizened old woman," and at others 

 takes the semblance of " a black bitch/' 



