Page:Notes on the folk-lore of the northern counties of England and the borders.djvu/68

46 The wraith is an apparition exactly like a living person, and its appearance, whether to that person or to another, is commonly thought an omen of death. These apparitions are called “fetches” throughout the sister island, in Cumberland “swarths,” and in Yorkshire “waffs.” Of waff I have two examples from the East Riding of Yorkshire. The first was narrated to the clergyman from whom I received it by an old man of Danby, in Cleveland, eighty-two years of age, and highly respectable as to character. Some years before, he was passing one evening by an uncle’s house, and, seeing the glow of firelight streaming through the window, looked in. To his great surprise he saw his uncle, who had long been “bed-fast” in the room above, seated in his former place in the “neukin.” He was astonished—still there could be no mistake; the form and features were those of his relation, and he further assured himself of the fact by a second look. He entered the house to obtain an explanation; but the room was dark, the seat empty, and the old man lying upstairs in his bed. But his uncle’s death took place before long.

A second case of this kind is said to have happened, at Whitby, to a tradesman suffering from stone, and ordered to the hospital at York for an operation. Before he set out, the patient said it was in vain, he should not return alive; he had seen his own waff, and knew he should die during the operation, or after it. His belief was verified: the operation was performed, but he did not long survive it. Either he was ignorant how to avert the ill-consequences of the apparition or he lacked courage at the moment. Had he spoken to it all would have been well. Thus a native of Guisborough, on going into a shop at Whitby, saw his own “waff,” and boldly addressed it thus: “What’s thou doin’ here? What’s thou doin’ here? Thou’s after no good, I’ll go bail! Get thy ways yom wi’ thee. Get thy ways yom!” The result of his thus taking the initiative was perfectly satisfactory.

The Vicar of Stamfordham has kindly communicated to me two cases of “wraiths,” or apparitions, from his parish. The first is of a poor woman, called Esther Morton, of Black Heddon, who went out gathering sticks on the ground of a neighbouring farmer. Looking up, she saw him before her, and turned quickly