WITH THE WOODLANDbRS. 23 



were in their teens, hold firmly to these folk-lore 

 traditions in spite of some would - be scientists, 

 who say there is a cause for everything, if we 

 could but find it. We do not find the causes 

 for certain things we never shall ; and so hu- 

 manity will hope and doubt and fear to the last. 



Some of the traditions that have been handed 

 down to us are so pure and good, that they must 

 have originated at some time or other from a 

 good source alone. Yet a certain class are most 

 earnestly trying to sweep away with a moneyed 

 broom the folk-lore and traditions of ages, and 

 to remodel a class of people that have been, and 

 are now, of very rugged but kindly natures. 



As in the Obi's practices in the West Indies, 

 personal malice is brought to bear on victims by 

 those who work on the credulity of their dupes. 



" I say, mister, do ye believe in witchcraft ? 

 I bin goin' to ask ye lots o' times, fust chance 

 I had ; now I got it," said a rustic to me one 

 day. 



" No, I do not ; and I hope you have not got that 

 nonsense in your head." 



" Ah, well, you don't know about everything*" 



