368 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



baud my tongue. When she came to us this afternoon 

 and asked if she was to have a branched candle and 

 whipcole to-morrow, like I've told her I used to have 

 at Yule time, James swore at her for dreaming o' such 

 extravagance, and blamed me sair for putting such 

 thoughts in her head. And I ! — I could have cursed 

 him if I were no' feared for his hard hand and harder 

 tongue. Yet, he will have his dram no doubt both 

 this night and to-morrow ! Ay, he will enjoy himself 

 after his ain fashion, thinking little and caring less 

 bow I fare ! If it were no' such a fearful night o' 

 snaw-bearing I'd go to faither's and take Liza wi' 

 me. It's a warm welcome we'd get there on Yule 

 e'en, I know." 



The woman paused and listened for a moment 

 to the wind howling around her lonely home. She 

 shivered, and glanced fearfully around the dimly- 

 lighted apartment, while tales of ghosts and evil spirits 

 flitted through her mind as she watched the wavering 

 shadows move upon the walls. Yule e'en is the time 

 when a superstitious, seafaring peasantry believed that 

 the invisible powers of earth and air and ocean were free 

 to revel as they liked among the habitations of man. 

 Unseen beings were supposed to rejoice in the tempest, 

 and to ride upon the snow-wreath or the foam-crested 

 billow. The lonely woman, who all her life long had 

 partially believed in those wild fancies, must be 

 excused for feeling some fear and even awe creep over 

 her as she sat there by herself and heard the voices of 

 the storm utter many a strange sound, which might 



