IN OCTOBER 189 



touch, has gilded every weed and shrub in sight? 

 No, the hickory shall claim no share in the making 

 of this subtle essence. The witch-hazel's gold is of 

 its own alchemy and the plant is famed for magic 

 of a subtler type than that of King Midas. One 

 never comes upon this plant in blossom without 

 surprise, pleasure and a sense of mystery. The 

 summer flowers are gone ; it is the season of 

 fruits and frost. What wonder, then, is this? 



" Has Time grown sleepy at his post 

 And let the exiled Summer back ? 

 Or is it her regretful ghost, 

 Or witchcraft of the almanac ? " 



When Ellen and I were children, we had a 

 neighbor who could "water-witch." Though small 

 in faith, I confess to a decided thrill down my 

 "spine -bone" wlien the forked twig held tightly 

 in his rigid hands was seen to turn downward tiine 

 after time as he crossed a certain line. The old 

 man invariably selected the most impossible situa- 

 tions in the barnyard and would then pace solemnly 

 up and down until the witch-hazel fork told him 

 where water was to be found. 



"There!" he would announce, eyeing with quiet 

 dignity all skeptics; "I wouldn't be afraid to dig 

 hyur, if I wanted a good spring-fed well." 



Father never did dig where he suggested, and 

 the power of his divining rod remained untested. 

 But we children were all impressed, and ever since 

 then we have been devoted to the witch-hazel. 



In the fairy tale, forlorn Cinderella was sup- 



