WINTER SHIFTS. 237 



this season. Farmyards, hen-roosts, duck-ponds, 

 and sheepfolds have been visited by "something" 

 that has left curious footprints in the snow, in 

 coming and going, resembling a long hand with 

 a dent like that of a long nail in front of it. These 

 were the marks of the badger ; but so much did 

 this strange track disturb one old dame who keeps 

 a large quantity of poultry in a lonely district, that 

 she talked to those who passed by about the Witch 

 of Endor and " Satan walking the airth agin." It 

 was in vain to try to explain the matter to her, 

 telling how the badger, being unusually hard 

 pressed, had come to her fowl-house, had tried to 

 get in all round, and, finding himself foiled, had 

 prospected in a general way all round the farm- 

 yard. I pointed out to her where his belly had 

 touched the snow, making a smooth trail; and 

 again where he had ploughed it up with his snout 

 like a pig ; then farther on I showed her his tracks 

 to the cover under the hill, but all to no purpose. 

 The old dame refused both comfort and explana- 

 tion. "Massy, oh alive!" she cried; "things like 

 thet 'ere waun't about when I wus a gal, an' I wishes 

 they waun't now thet I do." 



