Page:Curious myths of the Middle Ages (1876).djvu/101

 old Kentish house beset a fellow-guest, said to possess this power, with questions how they were to hold the two forks of the hazel wand. He proceeded to show them with the double stalk of a couple of twin cherries, the party being at dessert, when, lo! to the astonishment of himself and his questioners, the united portion curled quite over his hand. The master of the house alone knew that under his dining-room floor existed a strong spring of water.

The following extract from a letter I have just received will show that it is still in vogue on the Continent:—

“I believe the use of the divining rod for discovering springs of water has by no means been confined to Mediæval times, for I was personally acquainted with a lady, now deceased, who has successfully practised with it in this way. She was a very clever and accomplished woman; Scotch by birth and education; by no means credulous; possibly a a little imaginative, for she wrote not unsuccessfully; and of a remarkably open and straightforward disposition. Captain C——, her husband, had a large estate in Holstein, near