Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/371



Trolls of Norway.—The following is from a paper on "Norway," contributed by Mr. A. Sidgwick to the Report of the Rugby School Nat. Hist. Soc. for 1869, p. 54:—

"I will conclude with a tale that I heard from the captain of a steamer on the Storfjord.

"In the 14th century the Black Death, after decimating a certain village on the fjord, was proceeding northward in his fatal career. To do so he had to cross a certain hill, and so up he went. Now it chanced that a Troll lived in this hill, who had no idea of having trespassers on his property, be he Black Death or any other man. So he rolled down stones on the head of the invader, and killed him.

"This must be a true story for two reasons:—first, because the Black Death went no further north than this village; secondly, because the stones which the Troll rolled down are there to this very day, and I saw them with my own eyes."

Irish Folk-tale adopted in Fiction.—In Harper's Magazine for July last (pp. 201-208) Mr. Charles Reade publishes an Irish story, which he calls "Born to Good Luck." The phraseology and mise en scène are such as to lead one to suppose that the tale is either an invention of the author or at least founded on events of recent occurrence. It is, however, in all essential points identical with the folk-tale, "Doctor Cure-all," given by Patrick Kennedy, in his "Fireside Stories of Ireland," pp. 116-119; and analogous stories may be found in other collections, e.g. "The Charcoal-burner" in Dasent's Tales from the Fjeld, pp. 139-149.

Burial at Sea.—A sailor belonging to Peterhead told me that it is a common belief among sailors that a dead body "buried" at sea, when it falls from the plank and touches the water, turns the face to the ship, and sinks in that position. All the bodies he has seen committed to the deep did this.

Thirteen at Table.—The "fret" that thirteen sitting at table is unlucky, and that one of them will soon die, is widely spread. Here is