FOLK-LORE 365 



small a village ! Fruit trees, blossoming out of 

 season, are of evil omen for the family in whose 

 garden they are found. Two years ago, an apple 

 tree, in the same parish, put forth fine blossoms in 

 November. A woman who was attached to the 

 family and was passing by, remarked upon it to her 

 friend. "I can't abide to see 'em," she said, "for 

 they do mean trouble." In the following spring, four 

 members or connections of the family died, and a 

 fifth who was residing in the house had a serious 

 illness. "Didn't I tell 'ee so" there is always a 

 grim satisfaction in the phrase said the wise 

 woman, half in triumph, half in sorrow, " I know'd 

 thic apple tree did mean some harm to 'em." I 

 wonder, for how many years to come, the beliefs in 

 question will, owing to these and similar coinci- 

 dences, have taken a fresh lease of life, even in this 

 twentieth century. Probably for fifty years at least. 

 It is not altogether to be regretted. The villagers 

 know nothing of the fallacy, post hoc ergo propter hoc, 

 and they naturally take more note of the few striking 

 occasions when the supposed consequent follows its 

 antecedent, than of the many when it does not. Such 

 fancies make the people more interesting in them- 

 selves, and give them a keener interest in what is 

 going on around them. They throw a shade, 



