Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/307

Rh case; at the same time I have to state we had considerable hesitation in so doing, because we think your clients have steered very near the law in what they did. No doubt it is a silly old custom, which ought to be put a stop to. The law says that any one playing at football or other games (and there is a note which says that "making a hunt" with fancy dresses and setting up anything like a stang, or scarecrow, constitutes a game) on the highway commits an offence. In consideration that they thought they were not creating an obstruction, the bench are inclined to give the men the benefit of the doubt, and dismiss the case." I think this ought to be recorded in the Folk-Lore Journal.

Illustrations of current Folk-lore from Works of Fiction.—Many illustrations of belief in superstitious practices will be found in novels. Dickens has preserved several interesting pieces of folk-lore, and has given them by his genius fresh vitality. Sir Walter Scott's pages teem with notes on demonology. It would be useful were the readers of our current literature to note for the benefit of students of folk-lore such passages as illustrate, or profess to illustrate, local beliefs. I undernote a few items from Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, as example is better than precept.

(1.) Witchcraft.—"I stepped towards the aged rascal with an intention of kicking him out of the door. Mrs. Heathcliff however checked me by her answer. 'You scandalous old hypocrite!' she replied. 'Are you not afraid of being carried away bodily whenever you mention the devil's name. I warn you to refrain from provoking me, or I'll ask your abduction as a special favour. Stop! Look here, Joseph,' she continued, taking a long, dark book from a shelf; 'I'll show you how far I've progressed in the Black Art: I shall soon be competent to make a clear house of it. The red cow didn't die by chance; and your rheumatism can hardly be reckoned among providential visitations!'

'Oh, wicked, wicked!' gasped the elder; 'may the Lord deliver us from evil!'

'No, reprobate! you are a castaway—be off, or I'll hurt you seriously! I'll have you all modelled in wax and clay; and the first