Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 6 1888.djvu/270

262 and, when he arrived at the farm-house, the vine began again to pour forth wine, his father's eye to laugh [the golden apple-tree to bloom], the golden horse to neigh, and the golden damsel to sing. He told his father what his brothers had done to him on the way, and how a damsel had rescued him and freed herself from a curse. When his father heard this, he drove the two villains away into the world. But him he married to the golden damsel, with whom he lived long in happiness and content.

(Rev.) A. H. Wratislaw.

The Market Place, Rugby.

SOME FOLK-LORE FROM ACHTERNEED.

HE following was gleaned by me during a few days' stay at the hamlet of Achterneed, in the parish of Fodderty, Ross-shire. The hamlet lies on the slope of a hill near the well-known health resort of Strathpeffer, and is a station on the Dingwall and Skye line of railway.

I.—.

A cock crowing during the afternoon is regarded as an omen of a death near at hand in the neighbourhood. An old man died on the 21st of September this year in the hamlet. A cock crowed between three and four o'clock the afternoon before; and it was the common remark among the inhabitants that a death was not far distant.

Any creaking of the chairs and tables in a house is looked upon as a sure sign of the death of one of the family. My informant told me that, not long ago, her mother entered a house in which was lying a young woman sick. She heard some creaking among the chairs or tables during the time she was in the house. On returning home she mentioned the fact, and at the same time made the remark that it