Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/43

Rh her account. The traveller thanked him for his civility, and told him not to be vexed, for his wife would be well before the morrow, with the help of God. The traveller sat down in the parlour, and began to read his book to while away the night. During this interval the mistress was sickly, faint, and in great pain. When the traveller took his supper, which he greatly needed after the journey during the day, the master of the house excused himself, saying, " Were it not for the trouble which is over us, we should have a pleasant night." "Don't take that amiss on my account, but, believe me, improvement will take place in her before long." They were conversing in this way together till the girl came to them into the parlour. She said, "The mistress will be well directly." The traveller told her to go back, and give notice to delay the confinement for half-an-hour. The girl did that, and came back again, and told them it was impossible to make the delay. The traveller sent her back the second time with an order to make a delay of ten minutes. The girl did as she was bid, but the order was impossible. A boy-child was born, and immediately the woman in child-bed recovered. The master was full of mirth and pleasure till daylight. He served and waited on the traveller full worthily. In the morning of the morrow the traveller prepared for the road; but before he started he wrote an amulet (lit., John's book), and tied it under the neck of the child. He was obliged to wait there till the infant was baptized, and he was himself its god- father. Before departing, he ordered them not to remove the amulet from its neck till it should be able to read. Then he went his way.

Don't be afraid but that he got good heeding till he grew up to be a young man. He got schooling and reading without doubt. But one day as he was coming home from school his eye caught the amulet, and he wondered what virtue it had. He opened and read it, but what was written in it but that he should be hanged at the gate of his own father.

Great terror seized him at seeing what was to befall him. He came home and he was not cheerful nor himself. His mother noticed him, and asked him if he had anything disagreeable. He told her he had no trouble in the world upon him, but she did not believe him. He hid his secret from her, and yet she was urging him to state his