364 THE OLD MANOR HOUSE 



influence on all the other " settings " of the season. 

 The weather, indeed, of Good Friday and Easter 

 Day is as important a factor in the growth of the 

 hay crops, as is that of St Swithin elsewhere 



" Rain Good Friday or Easter Day, 

 Much good grass, but little good hay." 



Many, indeed most of the current traditions, 

 cluster, as is natural, round the great feasts or fasts 

 of the Church. If a death happens in a parish on 

 any day between the "two Christmases," 25th 

 December and 6th January, there is a belief that 

 twelve people will die within the year ; hence, a 

 painful and not altogether disinterested interest in 

 the condition of anyone who seems to be nearing 

 his end during that period. Three years ago, a 

 death took place in the adjoining parish of Hilton, 

 on one of these fateful days. The vicar, the Rev. 

 E. Lee, happened to have only lately come there ; 

 and the sexton, as in duty bound, drew his attention 

 to the circumstance, and told him what he must 

 expect next year. Mr Lee thought little more 

 about it ; but, on adding up the death returns at 

 the end of the following year, he was struck by the 

 fact that there were exactly twelve, a number much 

 above the average of four or five at most, for so 



