Ash. 
281 
sacred and secular, that we find similar fables existing amongst 
the Greeks. Hesiod deduces his brazen race of men from the 
ash, the tree generally deemed by his countrymen an image 
of the clouds and the mother of men. 
It is considered that the Christmas-tree of the Germans, 
recently imported into this country, originated in this myth- 
leal ash. 
The knowledge that the Druids evinced a great veneration 
for the mountain-ash is almost sufficient explanation of the 
many superstitious observances with which it is still connected 
in Great Britain, there being little doubt that the chief portion 
of such rustic ceremonies are only the remnants of Druidic 
customs. It has been observed that a stump of this tree is 
often discovered within or near the circle of a Druid temple, 
whose rites were formerly practised beneath its sacred shade. 
Lightfoot remarks that in these Druidic circles in North 
Britain, this tree is discovered more frequently than any other, 
and that, even now, pieces of it are carried about by supersti¬ 
tious people in the belief that it will preserve them from the 
powers of witchcraft. The same writer also remarks that in 
many parts of the Highlands of Scotland, when a child is born, 
the nurse inserts one end of a green stick of this tree into the 
fire, and while it is burning, gathers in a spoon the juice which 
oozes forth at the other end, and administers it to the new¬ 
born infant as its first spoonful of food. 
Ancient writers of many lands allude to the supposed respect 
or dread entertained by serpents for the ash. Pliny states that 
if a serpent be partially surrounded by a fire, and partly by 
ashen twigs, it will prefer to run through the fire to passing 
over the pieces of ash. Respecting this fallacy, Culpepper 
says that “ the contrary to which is the truth, as both my eyes 
are witness.” Evelyn also takes trouble to contradict the 
marvel, stating that it “ is an old imposture of Pliny’s, who 
either took it up upon trust, or we mistake the tree.” Cowley, 
in his poem on “ Plants,” amongst other prodigies alludes to 
• “But that which gave more wonder than the rest, 
Within an ash, a serpent built her nest, 
And laid her eggs; when once to come beneath 
The very shadow of an ash was death: 
Rather, if chance should force, she through the fire 
From its fallen leaves, so baneful, would retire;” 
