164 SPRING-TIDE. 



The elder was much venerated by our 

 Anglo-Saxon (or Old English, as Camden 

 more properly styles them) forefathers. The 

 canons of Edgar enumerate and denounce 

 the practice of several kinds of spells, and 

 among them those with " elders and other 

 trees.*" The elder is however, in our days, 

 prized for certain virtues, and its vinegar is 

 an excellent element in sauce for any kind 

 of freshwater fish. I will give you the 

 recipe for its use before you leave me. 



J. Your illustrations tempt me much 

 to take up the subject of provincialisms; 

 though I fear, from my want of practical 

 knowledge, I shall make but little progress ; 

 yet to know something more of our ancient 

 tongue is within the reach of every educated 

 man. 



S. You will find such reading give a 

 zest to your day's ramble in the country. 

 It is only the half-educated who affect to 

 despise the language of the village clown. 



