Land and Sea 



If you become suddenly rich, or in any 

 other way attain unexpectedly your heart's 

 desire, your neighbours will say that you have 

 found a hair ball. They refer to those curious 

 round and smooth agglomerations of undigested 

 hair which are sometimes found in the stomachs 

 of oxen and other animals, and which are not 

 uncommonly fatal to the domestic Persian. cat. 

 But it is not enough to find such a ball. 

 You must make a loaf of bread yourself, and 

 secretly ; you must place the hair ball within 

 it ; and then you must hide the loaf under an 

 altar or in some sacred place where nobody 

 will see it. Then whatever you wish will 

 arrive to you. It is all rather troublesome, 

 but the reward is great if the conditions are 

 properly fulfilled. 



If your own hair is coming out, the remedy 

 is quite simple. You must cut off a lock on 

 St. John's night (no other night will do) and 

 bury it under a quick-growing plant, such as a 

 pumpkin. Then if you are careful never to 

 pass the place again, your hair will be sure to 

 grow. I hope the publication of this simple 

 and certain remedy will not bring down on me 

 the wrath of Mr. Truefitt. 



129 K 



