Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 5 1887.djvu/165

 Rh nothing save trees loaded with snow, their ears were ravished with notes of music. The night was more than usually serene, the moon nearly at full, and yet, notwithstanding a minute search, not the slightest vestige of a human being could be discovered. The music was all this time continued, and, as far as they could judge, within a few paces of the place they occupied. The farmer and his friends are convinced that they are indebted to "fairies" for the entertainment they received; and as that part of the country was formerly, according to oral tradition, the theatre often selected by Queen Mab and her tiny followers to perform their mystic evolutions, and "Dance the Hay," they are induced to hope it is again fixed upon for the same purpose, and that times like those in which of yore the "Elgin train" condescended to visit mortals are on the eve of returning.—Hull Packet.

Early Witch Trials.—The late Rev. James Raine, the learned historian of North Durham, published a little before his own death "A Memoir of the Rev. John Hodgson . . . . . . author of the History of Northumberland," 2 vols. 8vo. 1857-1858. This work was a labour of love to its author. There is not so far as I know a more excellent life of a man of letters in our language. Hodgson was not only a local historian who holds a high place in the first rank, but also a man of very wide culture. The memoir therefore, as was to be expected, contains much valuable and curious information on subjects which the ordinary reader would not think of looking for in its pages. The geological information given is useful and as accurate as it could be, when we allow for the fact that the existence of "the great ice-sheet" was unthought of when Hodgson made his observations. There are also many facts about the safety-lamp which will be new to most readers. We have good reason to believe (and we say this sorrowfully) that the "Memoir" has been but little read, except by natives of Northumberland and the few students who take interest in local history. As this is the case, it may be well to transfer the following passages therefrom to the Folk-Lore Journal.

On the 4th of March, 1821, Hodgson, who was in London, writes to his wife telling her that her aunt Mrs. Burke had repeated to him the following stories:—