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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



not gone far when she met a tall, handsome young man, who 

 spoke to her. He joined her, and his words were so sweet that 

 she noticed nothing and knew not which way she went until at 

 last she looked up and found herself in a strange place where she 

 had never been before. In front of her was a great hole in the 

 face of a rock. The young man told her that this was his home, 

 and invited her to enter. She refused, but he urged until she said 

 that if he would go first she would follow after. He entered, but 

 when she looked after him she saw that he was changed to a fear- 

 ful wee-will-mecq — a loathly worm. She shrieked and turned to 

 run away, but at that instant a loud clap of thunder was heard, and 

 she knew no more until she opened her eyes in a vast room, where 

 sat an old man watching her. When he saw that she had awaked, 

 he said, ' I am your grandfather Thunder, and I have saved you.' 

 Leading her to the door, he showed her the wee-will-mecq dead as 

 a log, and chopped into small bits like kindling wood. The old 

 man had three sons, one named ' M'dessun.' He is the baby, and 

 is very fierce and cruel. It is he who slays men and beasts and 

 destroys property. The other two are kind and gentle ; they cool 

 the hot air, revive the parched fields and the crops, and destroy 

 only that which is harmful to the earth. When you hear low, 

 distant mutterings, that is the old man. He told the girl that as 

 often as spring returned she must think of him, and show that 

 she was grateful by giving him a little smoke. He then took 

 leave of her and sent her home, where her family had mourned 

 her as one dead. Since then no Indian has ever feared thunder." 

 I said, " But how about the lightning ? " " Oh/' said the old 

 woman, " lightning is grandfather's wife." 



Later in the summer, at Jackson in the White Mountains, I 

 met Louis Mitchell, for many years the Indian member of the 

 Maine Legislature, a Passamaquoddy, and asked him about this 

 story. He said it was perfectly true, although the custom was 

 now falling into disuse ; only the old people kept it up. The to- 

 bacco is cast upon the fire in a ring, and draws the electricity, 

 which plays above it in a beautiful blue circle of flickering flames. 

 He added that it is a well-known fact that no Indian and no In- 

 dian property were ever injured by lightning. 



The Council of the Boyal Agricultural Society of England has instituted a 

 fund to be contributed by all interested in agriculture, for preparing a testimonial 

 to tbe invaluable services rendered to that art by Sir John Lawes and Dr. Gilbert. 

 Subscriptions are to be limited to two guineas. The testimonial will take the 

 form of a granite memorial, with a suitable inscription, to be erected at the head 

 of the field where the experiments were made; and an address to Sir John Lawes 

 and Dr. Gilbert, accompanied (if the funds permit) by a commemorative piece 

 of plate. 



