40 IN THE ACADIAN LAND. 



to meet one. "Melancholy as a hare" is the 

 way Shakespeare has it, and he is always in touch 

 with the common people and all their sayings. 

 After the little fellow was dead, then there was 

 a better opinion of him, as often turns out with 

 mortal man. The great Francis Bacon tells us 

 with due solemnity that " The brains of hares are 

 very serviceable for strengthening the memory 

 and brightening up the faculties," when made 

 into a palatable dish. If there is any truth in 

 his assertion, he should have strongly recom- 

 mended a liberal diet of that sort of thing to 

 most people. Another old English writer gravely 

 tells us that " The knee-bone of a hare taken 

 out when the animal is alive, and worne about 

 the necke, is excellente against convulsive fits." 

 There was scant consideration for the poor brute 

 in that remedy. To carry in the pocket the 

 right foot of a hare was once considered a fine 

 remedy for rheumatism. It might answer such 

 a purpose. Horse-chestnuts, or a potato carried 

 in a pocket for rheumatism, have worked like 

 charms, and that is the virtue of the cure, 

 their faith has made them whole. One can 

 see now, in 1899, the fore feet of rabbits, 

 mounted in silver, and offered for sale in shop 

 windows of Boston as charms much in use by 

 smart people. 



