256 
THE STORMCOCK. 
his pleasure-grounds : they are of quick growth, 
and they soon produce an abundance of berries. 
Whilst the fruit of these trees affords a delicious 
autumnal repast to the stormcock, the branches 
which bear the berries are well known to be an 
effectual preservative against the devilish spells of 
witchcraft. In the village of Walton I have two 
small tenants : the name of one is James Simpson, 
that of the other Sally Holloway ; and Sally's house 
stands a little before the house of Simpson. Some 
three months ago I overtook Simpson on the turnpike 
road, and I asked him if his cow were getting better 
for his son had told me she had fallen sick. " She 's 
coming on surprisinglj^, Sir," quoth he. " The last 
time that the cow-doctor came to see her, ^ Jem,' 
said he to me, looking earnestly at old Sally's house, 
' Jem,' said he, ' mind and keep your cow-house 
door shut before the sun goes down, otherwise I 
won't answer what may happen to the cow.' — ' Ay, 
ay, my lad,' said I, * 1 understand your meaning ; 
but I am up to the old slut, and I defy her to do me 
any harm now.'" — " And what has old Sally been 
doing to you, James ? " said I. — Why, Sir," replied 
he, we all know, too well, what she can do. She 
has long owed me a grudge ; and my cow, which 
was in very good health, fell sick immediately after 
Sally had been seen to look in at the door of the 
cow-housC;, just as night was coming on. The cow 
grew worse and worse ; and so I went and cut a 
bundle of wiggin (mountain-ash), and I nailed the 
branches all up and down the cow-house ; and. 
Sir, you may see them there if you will take the 
