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CHAPTER IY. 



TREE MYTHS. 



Probably every one bred in the country will 

 remember some tale or legend attaching to 

 particular trees in the parish, which are looked 

 upon by the villagers with superstitious fear. 

 There is the " Hanging Tree " at the four-road- 

 ends; the" Shrew Ash;" the oak from which the 

 great Quaker preached ; and the Red Rowans, 

 with their strange attributes. Some of this 

 legendary lore is more or less local, while some 

 prevails throughout the country. It is natural 

 enough that that tree which enjoys the greatest 

 longevity should have most associations ; in- 

 deed, few enjoy much notoriety before they 

 begin to show signs of dissolution. 



The myth attaching to the " spirit-blasted " 

 Oak of Nassau Park, in North Wales, is a type 



